bend/stretch the rules

phrase

: to change or ignore rules
We cannot bend/stretch the rules just for you.

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bend someone's ear
bend/stretch the rules
bend (the) facts
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Cite this Entry

“Bend/stretch the rules.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bend%2Fstretch%20the%20rules. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.

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