expression to say that one 'goes around a rule' to avoid it while not breaking it
.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
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
asked Nov 10 at 23:43
Sara Costa
1,607123243
add a comment |
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
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
asked Nov 10 at 23:43
Sara Costa
1,607123243
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 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 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 at 6:57
add a comment |
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
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
asked Nov 10 at 23:43
Sara Costa
1,607123243
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 at 23:43
Sara Costa
1,607123243
asked Nov 10 at 23:43
Sara Costa
1,607123243
asked Nov 10 at 23:43
Sara Costa
1,607123243
asked Nov 10 at 23:43
Sara Costa
1,607123243
asked Nov 10 at 23:43
Sara Costa
1,607123243
1,607123243
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 at 6:57
add a comment |
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
up vote
13
down vote
accepted
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 at 0:09
Wordster
798215
1
Yes, aka to skirt the rules.
– Lambie
Nov 11 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 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 at 1:58
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
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 at 2:05
JonathanZ
1212
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
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 at 0:00
lbf
16.4k21561
2
One would not say that a toddler bent a rule....
– Lambie
Nov 11 at 0:33
2
@Lambie: would you mind clarifying why a toddler wouldn't 'bend' a rule?
– Sara Costa
Nov 11 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 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 at 1:55
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
"Obey to the letter of the law" (as opposition to its spirit).
answered Nov 15 at 15:46
Nygael
1111
add a comment |
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
13
down vote
accepted
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 at 0:09
Wordster
798215
1
Yes, aka to skirt the rules.
– Lambie
Nov 11 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 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 at 1:58
add a comment |
up vote
13
down vote
accepted
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 at 0:09
Wordster
798215
1
Yes, aka to skirt the rules.
– Lambie
Nov 11 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 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 at 1:58
add a comment |
up vote
13
down vote
accepted
up vote
13
down vote
accepted
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 at 0:09
Wordster
798215
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 at 0:09
Wordster
798215
answered Nov 11 at 0:09
Wordster
798215
answered Nov 11 at 0:09
Wordster
798215
answered Nov 11 at 0:09
Wordster
798215
798215
1
Yes, aka to skirt the rules.
– Lambie
Nov 11 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 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 at 1:58
add a comment |
1
Yes, aka to skirt the rules.
– Lambie
Nov 11 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 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 at 1:58
1
1
Yes, aka to skirt the rules.
– Lambie
Nov 11 at 0:32
Yes, aka to skirt the rules.
– Lambie
Nov 11 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 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 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 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 at 1:58
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
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 at 2:05
JonathanZ
1212
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
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 at 2:05
JonathanZ
1212
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
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 at 2:05
JonathanZ
1212
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 at 2:05
JonathanZ
1212
answered Nov 11 at 2:05
JonathanZ
1212
answered Nov 11 at 2:05
JonathanZ
1212
answered Nov 11 at 2:05
JonathanZ
1212
1212
add a comment |
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
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 at 0:00
lbf
16.4k21561
2
One would not say that a toddler bent a rule....
– Lambie
Nov 11 at 0:33
2
@Lambie: would you mind clarifying why a toddler wouldn't 'bend' a rule?
– Sara Costa
Nov 11 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 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 at 1:55
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
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 at 0:00
lbf
16.4k21561
2
One would not say that a toddler bent a rule....
– Lambie
Nov 11 at 0:33
2
@Lambie: would you mind clarifying why a toddler wouldn't 'bend' a rule?
– Sara Costa
Nov 11 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 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 at 1:55
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
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 at 0:00
lbf
16.4k21561
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 at 0:00
lbf
16.4k21561
answered Nov 11 at 0:00
lbf
16.4k21561
answered Nov 11 at 0:00
lbf
16.4k21561
answered Nov 11 at 0:00
lbf
16.4k21561
16.4k21561
2
One would not say that a toddler bent a rule....
– Lambie
Nov 11 at 0:33
2
@Lambie: would you mind clarifying why a toddler wouldn't 'bend' a rule?
– Sara Costa
Nov 11 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 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 at 1:55
add a comment |
2
One would not say that a toddler bent a rule....
– Lambie
Nov 11 at 0:33
2
@Lambie: would you mind clarifying why a toddler wouldn't 'bend' a rule?
– Sara Costa
Nov 11 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 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 at 1:55
2
2
One would not say that a toddler bent a rule....
– Lambie
Nov 11 at 0:33
One would not say that a toddler bent a rule....
– Lambie
Nov 11 at 0:33
2
2
@Lambie: would you mind clarifying why a toddler wouldn't 'bend' a rule?
– Sara Costa
Nov 11 at 1:00
@Lambie: would you mind clarifying why a toddler wouldn't 'bend' a rule?
– Sara Costa
Nov 11 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 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 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 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 at 1:55
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
"Obey to the letter of the law" (as opposition to its spirit).
answered Nov 15 at 15:46
Nygael
1111
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
"Obey to the letter of the law" (as opposition to its spirit).
answered Nov 15 at 15:46
Nygael
1111
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
"Obey to the letter of the law" (as opposition to its spirit).
answered Nov 15 at 15:46
Nygael
1111
"Obey to the letter of the law" (as opposition to its spirit).
answered Nov 15 at 15:46
Nygael
1111
answered Nov 15 at 15:46
Nygael
1111
answered Nov 15 at 15:46
Nygael
1111
answered Nov 15 at 15:46
Nygael
1111
1111
add a comment |
add a comment |
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 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 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 at 6:57