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relax the rules
/rɪˈlæks ðə ruːlz/
make rules less strict
The manager decided to relax the rules so employees could take longer lunch breaks.
The manager chose to make the rules less strict to allow longer lunch breaks.
informal
to make rules less strict or enforce them less rigidly
The school relaxed the rules about homework during exam week.
The school made the rules about homework less strict during exam week.
The gym relaxed the rules for new members to encourage sign-ups.
The gym made the rules for new members less strict to attract more people.
Often used in management, education, or policy contexts to describe temporary or permanent changes to rules.
Collocations
relax the rules onto make a specific rule or set of rules less strict
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Use in Context
Use 'relax the rules' when discussing changes to policies or guidelines, especially in management or educational settings. For example: 'The company relaxed the rules about remote work after seeing positive results.'
Gold Rule
Avoid Overuse
This phrase is best used for significant changes to rules. For minor adjustments, consider alternatives like 'modify the rules' or 'adjust the guidelines'.
Word Origin
The phrase combines the verb 'relax' (from Latin 'relaxare', meaning 'to loosen') with 'the rules' (from Old French 'règle', meaning 'a regulation'). The idiomatic use of 'relax' in this context emerged in the mid-20th century, particularly in business and administrative contexts.
Usage Notes
This phrase is commonly used in informal or professional settings to describe a deliberate decision to reduce the strictness of regulations or guidelines. It implies a shift toward flexibility rather than complete abandonment of rules.
Word Breakdown
relax
to make less strict or rigid
verbthe rules
regulations or guidelines that must be followed
noun phraseEnglish Dictionary