bend/stretch the rules
idiom
: to change or ignore rules
We cannot bend/stretch the rules just for you.
Examples of bend/stretch the rules in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
When one attendee attempted to bend the rules, Reilly admonished the punter, urging them to live in the moment and absorb the connection between the performer and the audience.
—
Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2025
The show is expected to bend the rules and tell Aleska’s former housemates what happened to her following her eviction, which will shock close allies Lupillo Rivera and Luca Onestini, who has not taken her eviction well.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 11 Mar. 2025
However, even if the president violated the law, the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on presidential immunity last year gives presidents wide latitude to bend the rules or even break the law without repercussions.
—Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 26 Jan. 2025
Even the best athletes bend the rules sometimes—which is pretty much what happened on Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce‘s Super Bowl date.
—Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bend/stretch the rules
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2025
The show is expected to bend the rules and tell Aleska’s former housemates what happened to her following her eviction, which will shock close allies Lupillo Rivera and Luca Onestini, who has not taken her eviction well.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 11 Mar. 2025
However, even if the president violated the law, the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on presidential immunity last year gives presidents wide latitude to bend the rules or even break the law without repercussions.
—Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 26 Jan. 2025
Even the best athletes bend the rules sometimes—which is pretty much what happened on Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce‘s Super Bowl date.
—Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bend/stretch the rules
Cite this Entry
“Bend/stretch the rules.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bend%2Fstretch%20the%20rules. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share