expression to say that one 'goes around a rule' to avoid it while not breaking it
I can't seem to recall the proper way to refer to the action of avoiding a rule or order not by breaking it but by using some sort of loophole to work around it.
I'm not sure if it's an actual idiom or just an expression.
I was trying to describe a toddler who was told he couldn't leave a room (couldn't set a foot outside the room, was the exact wording) while his father was assembling a piece of furniture, due to the small pieces around. So the toddler lay flat on the floor, his feet obediently inside the room while the rest of the body was on the hall, as close to the action as possible.
How can I say he 'went around' his mother's order?
phrase-requests idiom-requests
add a comment |
I can't seem to recall the proper way to refer to the action of avoiding a rule or order not by breaking it but by using some sort of loophole to work around it.
I'm not sure if it's an actual idiom or just an expression.
I was trying to describe a toddler who was told he couldn't leave a room (couldn't set a foot outside the room, was the exact wording) while his father was assembling a piece of furniture, due to the small pieces around. So the toddler lay flat on the floor, his feet obediently inside the room while the rest of the body was on the hall, as close to the action as possible.
How can I say he 'went around' his mother's order?
phrase-requests idiom-requests
2
I think an ancillary problem here is the use of toddler. A toddler is a small child just learning to walk- one who is still unsteady on their feet. Walking typically happens around 8 months to a year-ish. Too young to understand language to the point of being able to identify a loophole in the rules and exploit it.
– Jim
Nov 11 '18 at 2:04
3
A toddler is aged from about 1-3. They are able to understand much more than you think, @jim and are also masters of manipulation by then. How about ‘transcend the rules’?
– Jelila
Nov 11 '18 at 6:13
2
Just FYI, pediatricians spend a lot of time consoling mothers who believe that walking typically happens before it usually does. Also, defining toddlers is usually based on their age from birth, but gauging their development (like walking) usually takes their gestational age into account.
– KannE
Nov 11 '18 at 6:57
add a comment |
I can't seem to recall the proper way to refer to the action of avoiding a rule or order not by breaking it but by using some sort of loophole to work around it.
I'm not sure if it's an actual idiom or just an expression.
I was trying to describe a toddler who was told he couldn't leave a room (couldn't set a foot outside the room, was the exact wording) while his father was assembling a piece of furniture, due to the small pieces around. So the toddler lay flat on the floor, his feet obediently inside the room while the rest of the body was on the hall, as close to the action as possible.
How can I say he 'went around' his mother's order?
phrase-requests idiom-requests
I can't seem to recall the proper way to refer to the action of avoiding a rule or order not by breaking it but by using some sort of loophole to work around it.
I'm not sure if it's an actual idiom or just an expression.
I was trying to describe a toddler who was told he couldn't leave a room (couldn't set a foot outside the room, was the exact wording) while his father was assembling a piece of furniture, due to the small pieces around. So the toddler lay flat on the floor, his feet obediently inside the room while the rest of the body was on the hall, as close to the action as possible.
How can I say he 'went around' his mother's order?
phrase-requests idiom-requests
phrase-requests idiom-requests
asked Nov 10 '18 at 23:43
Sara CostaSara Costa
1,636123243
1,636123243
2
I think an ancillary problem here is the use of toddler. A toddler is a small child just learning to walk- one who is still unsteady on their feet. Walking typically happens around 8 months to a year-ish. Too young to understand language to the point of being able to identify a loophole in the rules and exploit it.
– Jim
Nov 11 '18 at 2:04
3
A toddler is aged from about 1-3. They are able to understand much more than you think, @jim and are also masters of manipulation by then. How about ‘transcend the rules’?
– Jelila
Nov 11 '18 at 6:13
2
Just FYI, pediatricians spend a lot of time consoling mothers who believe that walking typically happens before it usually does. Also, defining toddlers is usually based on their age from birth, but gauging their development (like walking) usually takes their gestational age into account.
– KannE
Nov 11 '18 at 6:57
add a comment |
2
I think an ancillary problem here is the use of toddler. A toddler is a small child just learning to walk- one who is still unsteady on their feet. Walking typically happens around 8 months to a year-ish. Too young to understand language to the point of being able to identify a loophole in the rules and exploit it.
– Jim
Nov 11 '18 at 2:04
3
A toddler is aged from about 1-3. They are able to understand much more than you think, @jim and are also masters of manipulation by then. How about ‘transcend the rules’?
– Jelila
Nov 11 '18 at 6:13
2
Just FYI, pediatricians spend a lot of time consoling mothers who believe that walking typically happens before it usually does. Also, defining toddlers is usually based on their age from birth, but gauging their development (like walking) usually takes their gestational age into account.
– KannE
Nov 11 '18 at 6:57
2
2
I think an ancillary problem here is the use of toddler. A toddler is a small child just learning to walk- one who is still unsteady on their feet. Walking typically happens around 8 months to a year-ish. Too young to understand language to the point of being able to identify a loophole in the rules and exploit it.
– Jim
Nov 11 '18 at 2:04
I think an ancillary problem here is the use of toddler. A toddler is a small child just learning to walk- one who is still unsteady on their feet. Walking typically happens around 8 months to a year-ish. Too young to understand language to the point of being able to identify a loophole in the rules and exploit it.
– Jim
Nov 11 '18 at 2:04
3
3
A toddler is aged from about 1-3. They are able to understand much more than you think, @jim and are also masters of manipulation by then. How about ‘transcend the rules’?
– Jelila
Nov 11 '18 at 6:13
A toddler is aged from about 1-3. They are able to understand much more than you think, @jim and are also masters of manipulation by then. How about ‘transcend the rules’?
– Jelila
Nov 11 '18 at 6:13
2
2
Just FYI, pediatricians spend a lot of time consoling mothers who believe that walking typically happens before it usually does. Also, defining toddlers is usually based on their age from birth, but gauging their development (like walking) usually takes their gestational age into account.
– KannE
Nov 11 '18 at 6:57
Just FYI, pediatricians spend a lot of time consoling mothers who believe that walking typically happens before it usually does. Also, defining toddlers is usually based on their age from birth, but gauging their development (like walking) usually takes their gestational age into account.
– KannE
Nov 11 '18 at 6:57
add a comment |
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
Circumvent
to manage to get around [an obstacle], especially by ingenuity or stratagem; work around by outwitting
As in:
By obeying the letter of his mother's order, but not the spirit, the toddler circumvented the prohibition.
1
Yes, aka to skirt the rules.
– Lambie
Nov 11 '18 at 0:32
1
@Lambie I agreed with you that bent is not "normal" but equally I have to disagree with circumvent whose antonym is comply (with) which is exactly what the toddler literally did. Synonyms for circumvent are skirt (which you mention) that has a good connotation with getting around a mothers wish. Also "beat" (i.e. broke) and "dodge" both via ingenuity seem almost appropriate.
– KJO
Nov 11 '18 at 1:53
2
Honestly, I think "follow the letter but not the spirit of the rule", while rather long, would be an excellent phrase to use.
– JonathanZ
Nov 11 '18 at 1:58
add a comment |
technically
It's very commonly and idiomatically used in (American) English for this situation. Saying "The child technically obeyed his mother", or "He obeyed his mother, technically" carries a strong implication that while he didn't violate the rules he did something that the rules were intended to prevent.
In spoken English the word "technically" would be stressed, and maybe drawn out a little, to highlight that it's the "technically" part that's important, not the "obeyed" part.
add a comment |
One might use the idiom: bend/stretch the rules TFD
to do something that is usually prohibited.
As in:
The toddler bent the rules.
2
One would not say that a toddler bent a rule....
– Lambie
Nov 11 '18 at 0:33
2
@Lambie: would you mind clarifying why a toddler wouldn't 'bend' a rule?
– Sara Costa
Nov 11 '18 at 1:00
1
@SaraCosta I am going to concur here and say Lambie is right we just automatically feel a toddler would not deliberately "bend" via a loophole, the rules. Toddlers are still experimental and certainly may "test the rules" what is perfectly understandable is "The toddler broke the rule" which is ambiguous based on which rule we mean or "The toddler bent the rule" only if we meant a straight stick.
– KJO
Nov 11 '18 at 1:26
That definition is very weak in my opnion. Fishing at the lake on the one day out of the year when it is allowed is not bending the rules.
– Jim
Nov 11 '18 at 1:55
add a comment |
"Obey to the letter of the law" (as opposition to its spirit).
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function()
var channelOptions =
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "97"
;
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function()
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled)
StackExchange.using("snippets", function()
createEditor();
);
else
createEditor();
);
function createEditor()
StackExchange.prepareEditor(
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader:
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
,
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
);
);
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f472423%2fexpression-to-say-that-one-goes-around-a-rule-to-avoid-it-while-not-breaking-i%23new-answer', 'question_page');
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Circumvent
to manage to get around [an obstacle], especially by ingenuity or stratagem; work around by outwitting
As in:
By obeying the letter of his mother's order, but not the spirit, the toddler circumvented the prohibition.
1
Yes, aka to skirt the rules.
– Lambie
Nov 11 '18 at 0:32
1
@Lambie I agreed with you that bent is not "normal" but equally I have to disagree with circumvent whose antonym is comply (with) which is exactly what the toddler literally did. Synonyms for circumvent are skirt (which you mention) that has a good connotation with getting around a mothers wish. Also "beat" (i.e. broke) and "dodge" both via ingenuity seem almost appropriate.
– KJO
Nov 11 '18 at 1:53
2
Honestly, I think "follow the letter but not the spirit of the rule", while rather long, would be an excellent phrase to use.
– JonathanZ
Nov 11 '18 at 1:58
add a comment |
Circumvent
to manage to get around [an obstacle], especially by ingenuity or stratagem; work around by outwitting
As in:
By obeying the letter of his mother's order, but not the spirit, the toddler circumvented the prohibition.
1
Yes, aka to skirt the rules.
– Lambie
Nov 11 '18 at 0:32
1
@Lambie I agreed with you that bent is not "normal" but equally I have to disagree with circumvent whose antonym is comply (with) which is exactly what the toddler literally did. Synonyms for circumvent are skirt (which you mention) that has a good connotation with getting around a mothers wish. Also "beat" (i.e. broke) and "dodge" both via ingenuity seem almost appropriate.
– KJO
Nov 11 '18 at 1:53
2
Honestly, I think "follow the letter but not the spirit of the rule", while rather long, would be an excellent phrase to use.
– JonathanZ
Nov 11 '18 at 1:58
add a comment |
Circumvent
to manage to get around [an obstacle], especially by ingenuity or stratagem; work around by outwitting
As in:
By obeying the letter of his mother's order, but not the spirit, the toddler circumvented the prohibition.
Circumvent
to manage to get around [an obstacle], especially by ingenuity or stratagem; work around by outwitting
As in:
By obeying the letter of his mother's order, but not the spirit, the toddler circumvented the prohibition.
answered Nov 11 '18 at 0:09
WordsterWordster
820215
820215
1
Yes, aka to skirt the rules.
– Lambie
Nov 11 '18 at 0:32
1
@Lambie I agreed with you that bent is not "normal" but equally I have to disagree with circumvent whose antonym is comply (with) which is exactly what the toddler literally did. Synonyms for circumvent are skirt (which you mention) that has a good connotation with getting around a mothers wish. Also "beat" (i.e. broke) and "dodge" both via ingenuity seem almost appropriate.
– KJO
Nov 11 '18 at 1:53
2
Honestly, I think "follow the letter but not the spirit of the rule", while rather long, would be an excellent phrase to use.
– JonathanZ
Nov 11 '18 at 1:58
add a comment |
1
Yes, aka to skirt the rules.
– Lambie
Nov 11 '18 at 0:32
1
@Lambie I agreed with you that bent is not "normal" but equally I have to disagree with circumvent whose antonym is comply (with) which is exactly what the toddler literally did. Synonyms for circumvent are skirt (which you mention) that has a good connotation with getting around a mothers wish. Also "beat" (i.e. broke) and "dodge" both via ingenuity seem almost appropriate.
– KJO
Nov 11 '18 at 1:53
2
Honestly, I think "follow the letter but not the spirit of the rule", while rather long, would be an excellent phrase to use.
– JonathanZ
Nov 11 '18 at 1:58
1
1
Yes, aka to skirt the rules.
– Lambie
Nov 11 '18 at 0:32
Yes, aka to skirt the rules.
– Lambie
Nov 11 '18 at 0:32
1
1
@Lambie I agreed with you that bent is not "normal" but equally I have to disagree with circumvent whose antonym is comply (with) which is exactly what the toddler literally did. Synonyms for circumvent are skirt (which you mention) that has a good connotation with getting around a mothers wish. Also "beat" (i.e. broke) and "dodge" both via ingenuity seem almost appropriate.
– KJO
Nov 11 '18 at 1:53
@Lambie I agreed with you that bent is not "normal" but equally I have to disagree with circumvent whose antonym is comply (with) which is exactly what the toddler literally did. Synonyms for circumvent are skirt (which you mention) that has a good connotation with getting around a mothers wish. Also "beat" (i.e. broke) and "dodge" both via ingenuity seem almost appropriate.
– KJO
Nov 11 '18 at 1:53
2
2
Honestly, I think "follow the letter but not the spirit of the rule", while rather long, would be an excellent phrase to use.
– JonathanZ
Nov 11 '18 at 1:58
Honestly, I think "follow the letter but not the spirit of the rule", while rather long, would be an excellent phrase to use.
– JonathanZ
Nov 11 '18 at 1:58
add a comment |
technically
It's very commonly and idiomatically used in (American) English for this situation. Saying "The child technically obeyed his mother", or "He obeyed his mother, technically" carries a strong implication that while he didn't violate the rules he did something that the rules were intended to prevent.
In spoken English the word "technically" would be stressed, and maybe drawn out a little, to highlight that it's the "technically" part that's important, not the "obeyed" part.
add a comment |
technically
It's very commonly and idiomatically used in (American) English for this situation. Saying "The child technically obeyed his mother", or "He obeyed his mother, technically" carries a strong implication that while he didn't violate the rules he did something that the rules were intended to prevent.
In spoken English the word "technically" would be stressed, and maybe drawn out a little, to highlight that it's the "technically" part that's important, not the "obeyed" part.
add a comment |
technically
It's very commonly and idiomatically used in (American) English for this situation. Saying "The child technically obeyed his mother", or "He obeyed his mother, technically" carries a strong implication that while he didn't violate the rules he did something that the rules were intended to prevent.
In spoken English the word "technically" would be stressed, and maybe drawn out a little, to highlight that it's the "technically" part that's important, not the "obeyed" part.
technically
It's very commonly and idiomatically used in (American) English for this situation. Saying "The child technically obeyed his mother", or "He obeyed his mother, technically" carries a strong implication that while he didn't violate the rules he did something that the rules were intended to prevent.
In spoken English the word "technically" would be stressed, and maybe drawn out a little, to highlight that it's the "technically" part that's important, not the "obeyed" part.
answered Nov 11 '18 at 2:05
JonathanZJonathanZ
1212
1212
add a comment |
add a comment |
One might use the idiom: bend/stretch the rules TFD
to do something that is usually prohibited.
As in:
The toddler bent the rules.
2
One would not say that a toddler bent a rule....
– Lambie
Nov 11 '18 at 0:33
2
@Lambie: would you mind clarifying why a toddler wouldn't 'bend' a rule?
– Sara Costa
Nov 11 '18 at 1:00
1
@SaraCosta I am going to concur here and say Lambie is right we just automatically feel a toddler would not deliberately "bend" via a loophole, the rules. Toddlers are still experimental and certainly may "test the rules" what is perfectly understandable is "The toddler broke the rule" which is ambiguous based on which rule we mean or "The toddler bent the rule" only if we meant a straight stick.
– KJO
Nov 11 '18 at 1:26
That definition is very weak in my opnion. Fishing at the lake on the one day out of the year when it is allowed is not bending the rules.
– Jim
Nov 11 '18 at 1:55
add a comment |
One might use the idiom: bend/stretch the rules TFD
to do something that is usually prohibited.
As in:
The toddler bent the rules.
2
One would not say that a toddler bent a rule....
– Lambie
Nov 11 '18 at 0:33
2
@Lambie: would you mind clarifying why a toddler wouldn't 'bend' a rule?
– Sara Costa
Nov 11 '18 at 1:00
1
@SaraCosta I am going to concur here and say Lambie is right we just automatically feel a toddler would not deliberately "bend" via a loophole, the rules. Toddlers are still experimental and certainly may "test the rules" what is perfectly understandable is "The toddler broke the rule" which is ambiguous based on which rule we mean or "The toddler bent the rule" only if we meant a straight stick.
– KJO
Nov 11 '18 at 1:26
That definition is very weak in my opnion. Fishing at the lake on the one day out of the year when it is allowed is not bending the rules.
– Jim
Nov 11 '18 at 1:55
add a comment |
One might use the idiom: bend/stretch the rules TFD
to do something that is usually prohibited.
As in:
The toddler bent the rules.
One might use the idiom: bend/stretch the rules TFD
to do something that is usually prohibited.
As in:
The toddler bent the rules.
answered Nov 11 '18 at 0:00
lbflbf
19.6k22370
19.6k22370
2
One would not say that a toddler bent a rule....
– Lambie
Nov 11 '18 at 0:33
2
@Lambie: would you mind clarifying why a toddler wouldn't 'bend' a rule?
– Sara Costa
Nov 11 '18 at 1:00
1
@SaraCosta I am going to concur here and say Lambie is right we just automatically feel a toddler would not deliberately "bend" via a loophole, the rules. Toddlers are still experimental and certainly may "test the rules" what is perfectly understandable is "The toddler broke the rule" which is ambiguous based on which rule we mean or "The toddler bent the rule" only if we meant a straight stick.
– KJO
Nov 11 '18 at 1:26
That definition is very weak in my opnion. Fishing at the lake on the one day out of the year when it is allowed is not bending the rules.
– Jim
Nov 11 '18 at 1:55
add a comment |
2
One would not say that a toddler bent a rule....
– Lambie
Nov 11 '18 at 0:33
2
@Lambie: would you mind clarifying why a toddler wouldn't 'bend' a rule?
– Sara Costa
Nov 11 '18 at 1:00
1
@SaraCosta I am going to concur here and say Lambie is right we just automatically feel a toddler would not deliberately "bend" via a loophole, the rules. Toddlers are still experimental and certainly may "test the rules" what is perfectly understandable is "The toddler broke the rule" which is ambiguous based on which rule we mean or "The toddler bent the rule" only if we meant a straight stick.
– KJO
Nov 11 '18 at 1:26
That definition is very weak in my opnion. Fishing at the lake on the one day out of the year when it is allowed is not bending the rules.
– Jim
Nov 11 '18 at 1:55
2
2
One would not say that a toddler bent a rule....
– Lambie
Nov 11 '18 at 0:33
One would not say that a toddler bent a rule....
– Lambie
Nov 11 '18 at 0:33
2
2
@Lambie: would you mind clarifying why a toddler wouldn't 'bend' a rule?
– Sara Costa
Nov 11 '18 at 1:00
@Lambie: would you mind clarifying why a toddler wouldn't 'bend' a rule?
– Sara Costa
Nov 11 '18 at 1:00
1
1
@SaraCosta I am going to concur here and say Lambie is right we just automatically feel a toddler would not deliberately "bend" via a loophole, the rules. Toddlers are still experimental and certainly may "test the rules" what is perfectly understandable is "The toddler broke the rule" which is ambiguous based on which rule we mean or "The toddler bent the rule" only if we meant a straight stick.
– KJO
Nov 11 '18 at 1:26
@SaraCosta I am going to concur here and say Lambie is right we just automatically feel a toddler would not deliberately "bend" via a loophole, the rules. Toddlers are still experimental and certainly may "test the rules" what is perfectly understandable is "The toddler broke the rule" which is ambiguous based on which rule we mean or "The toddler bent the rule" only if we meant a straight stick.
– KJO
Nov 11 '18 at 1:26
That definition is very weak in my opnion. Fishing at the lake on the one day out of the year when it is allowed is not bending the rules.
– Jim
Nov 11 '18 at 1:55
That definition is very weak in my opnion. Fishing at the lake on the one day out of the year when it is allowed is not bending the rules.
– Jim
Nov 11 '18 at 1:55
add a comment |
"Obey to the letter of the law" (as opposition to its spirit).
add a comment |
"Obey to the letter of the law" (as opposition to its spirit).
add a comment |
"Obey to the letter of the law" (as opposition to its spirit).
"Obey to the letter of the law" (as opposition to its spirit).
answered Nov 15 '18 at 15:46
NygaelNygael
1111
1111
add a comment |
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to English Language & Usage Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f472423%2fexpression-to-say-that-one-goes-around-a-rule-to-avoid-it-while-not-breaking-i%23new-answer', 'question_page');
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
2
I think an ancillary problem here is the use of toddler. A toddler is a small child just learning to walk- one who is still unsteady on their feet. Walking typically happens around 8 months to a year-ish. Too young to understand language to the point of being able to identify a loophole in the rules and exploit it.
– Jim
Nov 11 '18 at 2:04
3
A toddler is aged from about 1-3. They are able to understand much more than you think, @jim and are also masters of manipulation by then. How about ‘transcend the rules’?
– Jelila
Nov 11 '18 at 6:13
2
Just FYI, pediatricians spend a lot of time consoling mothers who believe that walking typically happens before it usually does. Also, defining toddlers is usually based on their age from birth, but gauging their development (like walking) usually takes their gestational age into account.
– KannE
Nov 11 '18 at 6:57