expression to say that one 'goes around a rule' to avoid it while not breaking it
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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 5 hours ago
Sara Costa
1,580123243
add a comment |
up vote
3
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 5 hours ago
Sara Costa
1,580123243
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
3 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
up vote
3
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 5 hours ago
Sara Costa
1,580123243
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 5 hours ago
Sara Costa
1,580123243
asked 5 hours ago
Sara Costa
1,580123243
asked 5 hours ago
Sara Costa
1,580123243
asked 5 hours ago
Sara Costa
1,580123243
asked 5 hours ago
Sara Costa
1,580123243
1,580123243
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
3 hours ago
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
3 hours ago
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
3 hours ago
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
3 hours ago
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
up vote
7
down vote
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 5 hours ago
Wordster
715214
1
Yes, aka to skirt the rules.
– Lambie
5 hours ago
@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
3 hours ago
1
Honestly, I think "follow the letter but not the spirit of the rule", while rather long, would be an excellent phrase to use.
– JonathanZ
3 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
1
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 3 hours ago
JonathanZ
1112
New contributor
JonathanZ is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
up vote
0
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 5 hours ago
lbf
16.1k21560
1
One would not say that a toddler bent a rule....
– Lambie
5 hours ago
1
@Lambie: would you mind clarifying why a toddler wouldn't 'bend' a rule?
– Sara Costa
4 hours ago
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
4 hours ago
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
3 hours ago
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
7
down vote
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 5 hours ago
Wordster
715214
1
Yes, aka to skirt the rules.
– Lambie
5 hours ago
@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
3 hours ago
1
Honestly, I think "follow the letter but not the spirit of the rule", while rather long, would be an excellent phrase to use.
– JonathanZ
3 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
7
down vote
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 5 hours ago
Wordster
715214
1
Yes, aka to skirt the rules.
– Lambie
5 hours ago
@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
3 hours ago
1
Honestly, I think "follow the letter but not the spirit of the rule", while rather long, would be an excellent phrase to use.
– JonathanZ
3 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
7
down vote
up vote
7
down vote
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 5 hours ago
Wordster
715214
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 5 hours ago
Wordster
715214
answered 5 hours ago
Wordster
715214
answered 5 hours ago
Wordster
715214
answered 5 hours ago
Wordster
715214
715214
1
Yes, aka to skirt the rules.
– Lambie
5 hours ago
@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
3 hours ago
1
Honestly, I think "follow the letter but not the spirit of the rule", while rather long, would be an excellent phrase to use.
– JonathanZ
3 hours ago
add a comment |
1
Yes, aka to skirt the rules.
– Lambie
5 hours ago
@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
3 hours ago
1
Honestly, I think "follow the letter but not the spirit of the rule", while rather long, would be an excellent phrase to use.
– JonathanZ
3 hours ago
1
1
Yes, aka to skirt the rules.
– Lambie
5 hours ago
Yes, aka to skirt the rules.
– Lambie
5 hours ago
@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
3 hours ago
@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
3 hours ago
1
1
Honestly, I think "follow the letter but not the spirit of the rule", while rather long, would be an excellent phrase to use.
– JonathanZ
3 hours ago
Honestly, I think "follow the letter but not the spirit of the rule", while rather long, would be an excellent phrase to use.
– JonathanZ
3 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
1
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 3 hours ago
JonathanZ
1112
New contributor
JonathanZ is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
up vote
1
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 3 hours ago
JonathanZ
1112
New contributor
JonathanZ is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
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 3 hours ago
JonathanZ
1112
New contributor
JonathanZ is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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 3 hours ago
JonathanZ
1112
New contributor
JonathanZ is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 3 hours ago
JonathanZ
1112
New contributor
JonathanZ is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 3 hours ago
JonathanZ
1112
answered 3 hours ago
JonathanZ
1112
1112
New contributor
JonathanZ is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
JonathanZ is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
JonathanZ is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
up vote
0
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 5 hours ago
lbf
16.1k21560
1
One would not say that a toddler bent a rule....
– Lambie
5 hours ago
1
@Lambie: would you mind clarifying why a toddler wouldn't 'bend' a rule?
– Sara Costa
4 hours ago
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
4 hours ago
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
3 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
0
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 5 hours ago
lbf
16.1k21560
1
One would not say that a toddler bent a rule....
– Lambie
5 hours ago
1
@Lambie: would you mind clarifying why a toddler wouldn't 'bend' a rule?
– Sara Costa
4 hours ago
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
4 hours ago
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
3 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
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 5 hours ago
lbf
16.1k21560
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 5 hours ago
lbf
16.1k21560
answered 5 hours ago
lbf
16.1k21560
answered 5 hours ago
lbf
16.1k21560
answered 5 hours ago
lbf
16.1k21560
16.1k21560
1
One would not say that a toddler bent a rule....
– Lambie
5 hours ago
1
@Lambie: would you mind clarifying why a toddler wouldn't 'bend' a rule?
– Sara Costa
4 hours ago
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
4 hours ago
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
3 hours ago
add a comment |
1
One would not say that a toddler bent a rule....
– Lambie
5 hours ago
1
@Lambie: would you mind clarifying why a toddler wouldn't 'bend' a rule?
– Sara Costa
4 hours ago
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
4 hours ago
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
3 hours ago
1
1
One would not say that a toddler bent a rule....
– Lambie
5 hours ago
One would not say that a toddler bent a rule....
– Lambie
5 hours ago
1
1
@Lambie: would you mind clarifying why a toddler wouldn't 'bend' a rule?
– Sara Costa
4 hours ago
@Lambie: would you mind clarifying why a toddler wouldn't 'bend' a rule?
– Sara Costa
4 hours ago
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
4 hours ago
@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
4 hours ago
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
3 hours ago
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
3 hours ago
add a comment |
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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
3 hours ago