play by the rules

play by the rules

To adhere to the rules, strictures, or conditions imposed by person or body of authority. If you want to write for this paper, kid, you're going to have to play by the rules! She's always been attracted to bad boys who don't play by the rules.
See also: by, play, rule
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

play by the rules

follow what is generally held to be the correct line of behaviour.
See also: by, play, rule
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

play by the ˈrules

deal fairly and honestly with people: You know how we conduct business here, and I expect you all to play by the rules in future.
See also: by, play, rule
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • play by (one's) rules
  • play by somebody's rules
  • play by (one's) own rules
  • Mr Clean
  • Mr. Clean
  • toe the
  • toe the line
  • toe the line/mark, to
  • toe the mark
  • I kid you not
References in periodicals archive
Like the MPs, we believe our town centres can prosper but only if web firms are made to play by the rules.
Retail boost; VOICE OF THE
'As a government, we want INEC, the CSOs and everybody to take note that our government and our party shall play by the rules. We will not only play our part to ensure security before, during and after the election, but we shall cooperate fully with INEC, the security agencies and the observers to see that exercise is memorable for all of us.
Elections: Ogun Govt To Purchase Additional 20 Armoured Personnel Carriers
"If they are not playing by the rules with nerve agents, will they play by the rules with people who may be interested in a sexual encounter?
England fans at World Cup 'at risk of blackmail from Russian mafia hookers'; There are fears gangsters could threaten to send incriminating pictures to fans' wives or post them on social media
'We'll just play by the rules. If the rules says that you have to win via quotient at the event of a tie, then we'll try to score as much as we can.
Black on Newsome's late shot: Just following quotient rules
Alastair Cook has spoken of his "sadness" for cricket and spelled out that everyone must "play by the rules" at all times, for the good of his sport.
Broad: No sign of illegal tactics in Ashes
And we'll bring more undocumented immigrants out of the shadows so they can play by the rules, pay their full share of taxes, pass a criminal background check, and get right with the law."
US President Weekly Radio Address
In addition to the creative workshops, Abu Dhabi Science Festival visitors will also have the opportunity to learn about railway safety as part of Etihad Rail's ongoing Play by the Rules initiative.
Railway safety workshops at Abu Dhabi science fest
Rose said: "I was good with the way everything played out, I want to play by the rules.
WHEN RULES RUSH IN; Rose bags Sawgrass boost as tour beaks drop two-shot penalty GOLF SAWGRASS LATEST
Health inspectors make sure new firms play by the rules, yet 1,300 environmental health jobs have been axed in two years, warns spokeswoman Heather Wakefield She said that cake fans inspired by shows like BBC's Great British Bake Off deserve praise for setting up new businesses and boosting local economies.
Health fear in craze to get baking
That painful recognition is deeply at odds with the American creed--that if you study hard and play by the rules, you get a fair shot at the future, regardless of your skin color, zip code, or size of your bank account.
Quote to note
Because why play by the rules? The game is fixed, right?"
Matt Damon 'disappointed' in Obama
He said mid-term blues ''aren't enough'' to explain the party's dire performance at the polls and promised to do more to help hard-working people who ''want to get on and play by the rules''.
PM pledge over polls
China will play by the rules of international agreements that it has been party to negotiating, a Chinese official said on Sunday.
China says it will play by rules it negotiates
The council will always act to protect those who play by the rules, but people who defraud the system are stealing from all the rest of us, and causing greater cuts and job reductions.
It's time to root out the fraudsters; emails &letters