Idiom idiom
honor in the breach
Meaning
To demonstrate (a rule, law, or policy) by breaking or breaching it.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Examples
“The company follows the rule more in the breach than in the observance.”
“Although the office policy requires formal attire, the staff treats this rule as more honored in the breach than in the observance.”
“The outdated regulation was widely ignored, with local officials treating the mandate as something honored in the breach rather than through strict adherence.”
Anchors to
Last updated August 10, 2026