breaking rules

Meanings

1. 1phraseidiom

   doing something that is not allowed by a set of rules

   Grammar: Used as a verb phrase; it can take an object like 'breaking school rules' or stand alone.

   Patterns

   • breaking rules
   • breaking the rules
   • breaking a rule

   He was punished for breaking rules during the exam.

   Breaking rules might seem exciting, but it has consequences.

   The company fired her for repeatedly breaking rules.

2. 2phraseidiom

   not following the usual accepted way of doing something

   Grammar: Often used about social or artistic conventions rather than written rules.

   Patterns

   • breaking the rules of something
   • breaking all the rules

   Her new novel is breaking the rules of traditional storytelling.

   The designer is breaking rules by mixing colors no one expected.

   They are breaking the rules of the game to make it more fun.

Common combinations

breaking the rules

Breaking the rules of the competition can get you disqualified.

breaking school rules

Breaking school rules may lead to detention.

breaking a rule

He didn't realize he was breaking a rule.

breaking all the rules

The artist is breaking all the rules with this exhibition.

Synonyms and how they differ

violating rules

More formal and often used for official or legal rules; 'breaking rules' is more everyday.

disobeying

Focuses on refusing to obey a person or authority, while 'breaking rules' focuses on the rules themselves.

bending the rules

Means doing something slightly against the rules without actually breaking them, so it is less serious.

Opposites

Word family

rule breaker noun

a person who breaks rules

rule-breaking noun

the act of breaking rules

Commonly confused: breaking rules or bending the rules?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “breaking rules”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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