rules of the game
How it's played
The rules of the game are the principles governing how something is played or conducted.
Beyond literal games, the phrase describes accepted norms in any competitive or social arena: If you want to succeed in politics, you have to learn the rules of the game.
To play by the rules is to act within accepted bounds; to change the rules of the game is to alter fundamental conditions.
- lawBinding principle or regulation
- principleFundamental truth or standard
- turn-takingAlternating speaker roles
- fairnessJust and equal treatment
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
sportsmanship · competition · code of conduct · strategy · level playing field · home court advantage · protocol · fair play · losing · sudden death · tie breaker · cooperation · referee decision · penalties · winning · compliance · enforcement · tournament play
rules of the gamefree-for-all
Unregulated group conflict
anything goes · breaking the rules · no holds barred · chaos · lawlessness
rules of the gamesuggestions
Proposed ideas or advice
tips · guidelines · recommendations · advice · hints
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