hard-and-fast rule
6
4.5
- noun
:
regla estricta
- People seem to be looking for some hard and fast rule that's always applicable.
There are no hard and fast rules that govern this.
- There are no hard and fast rules that govern this.
- I have a very hard and fast rule that I use when it comes to this idea of self punishment.
- Just don't take what someone else says as you know the hard and fast rule that this is what it is.
- It's really hard to give hard and fast rules about it, but this mid range cut for clarity is going to be pretty typical hat and ride.
Examples
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There are no hard and fast rules about what approach to use for different situations, age groups, or cultures.
Academic text (2010) -
The main prerequisite, say locals, is to remember three hard and fast rules: Be honest, be fair, and be friendly.
Academic text (1994) -
So we are way too early to actually give hard and fast rules on some of these things.
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Well, there are no hard and fast rules.
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Nobody can make hard and fast rules about women.
Fiction book (1998) -
So there is no hard and fast rule for our bodies!
Blog text (1) -
There is no hard and fast rule here, and it is not something that can be prescribed.
Blog text (16) -
The only hard and fast rule you should adhere to in marketing is what works for you.
Blog text (18) -
There is no hard-and-fast rule that says one type of corporate client is better than another.
Academic text (2009) -
In mathematics, there are few hard-and-fast rules that apply to all problems.
Synonyms
14
3.4
An order people must follow exactly, often with punishment if ignored
3
4.2
A set of rules people must always follow with no exceptions
1
7.8
A clear rule that tells people exactly what to do
How Inflexible
6
4.5
- Formal
Surface Forms
Morphology
hard-and-fast + rule
The phrase 'hard-and-fast' uses 'hard' (firm) and 'fast' in the sense of fixed/secure rather than quick, so the literal constituents only partially hint at rigidity. A B1 learner who knows the words might guess a sense of firmness but would likely not predict the conventionalized meaning 'inflexible, unchangeable' without prior exposure, so the expression is only partially transparent.
Etymology
Hard-and-fast rule comes from the image of something held so tightly it is hard and fast, like a rope tied tight and stuck in place. So, it means a rule that is 'fixed' and 'cannot be changed'.