rule
noun uk/ruːl/ us/ruːl/
(INSTRUCTION)
B1 [ C usually plural ]规则;法则;规章;条例
an accepted principle or instruction that states the way things are or should be done, and tells you what you are allowed or are not allowed to do
A referee must know all the rules of the game. 裁判一定要通晓比赛的所有规则。
The first/most important rule in life is always to appear confident. 人生的首要法则就是永远要表现得自信。
Before you start your own business you should be familiar with the government's rules and regulations. 在创立自己的公司之前，你应该了解政府的有关条例和规定。
You must follow/obey/observe the rules. 你一定要遵守规则。
You must not break the rules. 你千万不可违反规则。
In special cases the manager will bend/stretch the rules (= allow the rules to be broken slightly). 在特殊情况下，经理会对这些规定进行变通。
You can trust Ruth because she always plays (it) by/goes by/does things by the rules (= follows instructions, standards, or rules). 你可以信任露丝，她做事一贯遵守规矩。
[ + to infinitive ] It's against the rules (of/in boxing) to hit below the belt. 击打腰带以下的部位是违反（拳击比赛）规则的。
[ + that ] It's a club rule that new members must sing a song. 新成员一定要唱一首歌，这是俱乐部的规定。
- More examples
- There are exceptions to every rule.
- There's an unwritten rule that you don't wear jeans to work.
- They made an ineffective attempt to get the rules changed.
- Prisoners complain that they are subjected to too many petty rules and restrictions.
- Grammatical rules prescribe how words may be used together.
(CONTROL)
C2 [ U ]统治（期）;管辖（期）
a period of time during which a particular person or group is in control of a country
The period of Fascist rule is one people try to forget. 那段法西斯统治的历史时期是人们想要努力忘却的。
We don't want one-party rule - we want rule by the people. 我们不想要一党专制－－我们想要的是民治。
See also: misrule
- More examples
- Various parts of Africa have suffered under colonial rule.
- UK The constituency fell to Labour at the last election, after ten years of Conservative rule.
- The president resigned after 30 years of autocratic rule.
- In the end she left home just to escape the tyrannical rule of her mother.
- The people revolted against foreign rule and established their own government.
Idioms
as a (general) ruleidiom B2 通常；一般说来
usually
As a general rule, I don't read detective novels. 我通常不看侦探小说。
make it a ruleidiom 按规矩；按照习惯，遵循常规
to act according to a principle
I make it a rule not to eat fatty foods. 我不吃油腻的食物，这是我的习惯。
rule of thumbidiom C1 实用的估测方法；经验之谈；经验法则
a practical and approximate way of doing or measuring something
A good rule of thumb is that a portion of rice is two handfuls. 有个方便实用的估算方法，即两把生米便是够一人吃的量。
rules are made to be brokenidiom saying （用于表示违反一项规则合情合理）制定规则是为了被打破的。
used to say that it is good and acceptable to not obey a rule
rule
verb uk/ruːl/ us/ruːl/
(CONTROL)
B2 [ I or T ]控制;统治;治理
to control or be the person in charge of something such as a country
Most modern kings and queens rule (their countries) only in a formal way, without real power. 现代的大多数国王或女王（对他们的国家）的统治都只是形式上的，并不握有实权。
She rules her household with an iron hand/fist (= severely). 她在家里大权在握，持家很严。
B2 [ I or T ]支配，操控，控制
to be the most important and controlling influence on someone
Love ruled supreme in her heart. 她的心已被爱所俘虏。
The desperate desire to go to Moscow ruled their lives. 要去莫斯科的强烈愿望支配了他们的生活。
- More examples
- The occupying force ruled by diktat.
- The Romans ruled over most of Europe.
- He was able to rule the game with his superior strength and skill.
- He has been ruling the country since a military coup in 1987.
- It used to be said that Britain ruled an empire on which the sun never set.
(DECIDE)
[ I or T ]裁决，裁定;判定;决定
to decide officially
Only the Appeal Court can rule on this point. 只有上诉法院才可以就这一问题作出判决。
The judge ruled for/in favour of/against the defendant. 法官作出了有利于／不利于被告的判决。
[ + that ] The government has ruled that the refugees must be deported. 政府已经作出决定，难民必须被驱逐出境。
[ + obj + noun/adj ] The courts have ruled his brave action illegal. 法院裁决他的勇敢行为不合法。
See also: overrule
- More examples
- Her confession was ruled inadmissible as evidence because it was given under pressure from the police.
- The judge ruled that the directors had knowingly broken the law.
- The judge ruled her unfit to plead on the grounds of insanity.
- We won't be surprised if the judge rules in her favour.
- The player was ruled off-side and so the goal was disallowed.
(DRAW)
[ T ]（借助有直边的东西）画（线）
to draw a straight line using something that has a straight edge
She ruled two red lines under the title. 她在标题下面画了两条红线。
Idioms
be ruled by someoneidiom formal 听从（某人）的忠告;采纳（某人）的建议
to take the advice of someone
If you're wise you'll be ruled by your father. 你要是明智的话，就该听从你父亲的建议。
rule OKidiom UK slang 是最棒的;必胜;无敌
is the best
The graffiti on the wall said "Liverpool rules OK". 满墙都是“利物浦队必胜”的涂鸦文字。
rule the roostidiom 当家作主；主宰；支配一切
to be the person who makes all the decisions in a group
In that family it is the grandma who rules the roost. 那个家庭是奶奶当家。
Phrasal verbs
rule something or someone in 把…包括在内;说…是有可能的;认为…是合适的
to decide or say officially that something is possible or will definitely happen, or that something or someone is suitable
Are we prepared to negotiate? We haven't ruled it in or out. 我们准备进行谈判吗？我们还没有排除这个可能性。
rule something or someone outC2 把…排除在外;拒绝考虑
to decide or say officially that something is impossible or will not happen, or that something or someone is not suitable
The police haven't yet ruled out murder. 警察尚未排除谋杀的可能性。
I won't rule out a June election. 我不排除6月份进行选举的可能性。
The police have not ruled him out as a suspect. 警察尚未排除他的嫌疑。
rule something out 使…成为不可能，使…不可能发生；防止
to prevent something from happening
This recent wave of terrorism has ruled out any chance of peace talks. 最近的这一波恐怖行动已经使得任何和谈的机会都化为泡影。