more honored in the breach

English

Etymology

Coined by William Shakespeare in 1602 in "Hamlet," act 1, scene 4:

But to my mind, though I am native here
And to the manner born, it is a custom
More honored in the breach than the observance.

Phrase

more honored in the breach

  1. (of a rule, custom, etc.) Justifiably violated; endowing greater moral standing to those who do not obey.

Usage notes
  • Often used erroneously to refer to a rule that, in practice, is often broken.

See also
This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.