rule of engagement
26
7.9
- noun
- /ruːl əv ɪnˈɡeɪdʒmənt/
- Formal
:
reglas de enfrentamiento
- The military unit received clear rules of engagement before deploying to the conflict zone.
But yeah, the rules of engagement, if you saw someone, you could shoot them, like saw them.
- But yeah, the rules of engagement, if you saw someone, you could shoot them, like saw them.
- You know, when we were in Nellis, we had very little rules governing us other than the law of armed conflict and the rules of engagement.
- And I'll tell you what, what, what, what generally dictates rules of engagement are where you're operating.
Examples
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You ignored the rules of engagement.
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Thus, it argues, new rules of engagement are essential.
Academic text (2006) -
Lieutenant, we have new rules of engagement.
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You took it, and broke a major rule of engagement.
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Sir, I need rules of engagement.
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There are possible rules of engagement issues as to why they could not fire.
Blog text (5) -
I pointed out you only won because you broke the rules of engagement.
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Do they understand the rules of engagement, or just, whatever moves, they shoot it?
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A separate but important issue has to do with what the military refers to as "rules of engagement."
Academic text (1993) -
There is a clear enemy and mission, and the rules of engagement are broader than merely returning fire in self-defense.
Academic text (1993)
How Restrictive
∞
1.0
- Formal
4
4.2
- Formal
128
6.1
- Formal
26
7.9
344
3.1
553
2.5
Surface Forms
Morphology
rule + of + engagement
The meaning is directly compositional: 'rule' (a guideline) + 'of' (linking) + 'engagement' (a combat encounter) yields a guideline about engaging in combat. This standard genitive/prepositional construction is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words can readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
The noun rule of engagement comes from military orders that set clear limits about when soldiers may open fire. The image is simple: a written rule shows when an engagement can begin, so today the phrase means a formal guideline for when to 'start fighting' or act.