bend/stretch the rules

phrase

: to change or ignore rules

We cannot bend/stretch the rules just for you.

Examples of bend/stretch the rules in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Each new discovery seems to underscore just how singular the platypus is in the animal kingdom — a creature that doesn’t just bend the rules of biology but appears to exist in a category all its own. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2026

At most levels, players call their own infractions and even the slightest attempt to bend the rules is seen a major afront. — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026

They’re paired with much more experienced cops, some of whom are by-the-book types and some who prefer to bend the rules. — Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 27 Nov. 2025

Government and party officials, including members of the several police and party organizations that compile and use this political information, bend the rules to make life better for themselves and their families. — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025