honor in the breach

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honor in the breach (third-person singular simple present honors in the breach, present participle honoring in the breach, simple past and past participle honored in the breach)

1. (transitive, idiomatic, American spelling) To demonstrate (a rule, law, or policy) by breaking or breaching it.
   • c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv]:

     Hamlet: Ay, marry, is't:
     But to my mind, though I am native here
     And to the manner born, it is a custom
     More honour'd in the breach than the observance.

   • 2014 February 21, “Not poles apart”, in The Economist‎:

     Many religious precepts are honoured in the breach.

• honour in the breach

• exception that proves the rule