posted
I don't totally understand this concept. And I don't think I've ever seen a specific example that's cleared it up for me, or proven it so to speak.
So if anyone can help me wrap my head around this one, or give me an example of one, I'd be most appreciative.
Posts: 251 | Registered: Mar 2002
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quote:We think of it as meaning some case that doesn’t follow the rule, but the original sense was of someone or something that is granted permission not to follow a rule that otherwise applies.
i think this is where my problem was. I couldn't figure how finding something that didn't follow a rule, proved that very rule.
I was looking at it the wrong way...
Posts: 251 | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
The idea behind the phrase is that no rule made by man is ever 100% accurate. There will always be an exception/
For example, Men like football more than woman is a rule of life. My wife loves football. I find it boring. That is the exception that proves the rule.
Posts: 11895 | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
But since the meaning of exception in the original context of the phrase is now obsolete, why didn't the phrase drop out of use as well?
Posts: 3516 | Registered: Sep 2002
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posted
You expect too much of the English language to assume that obsolete phrases or usages will be weeded out. That's just not how language generally works...
Posts: 4816 | Registered: Apr 2003
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