honor in the breach

present singular third person honors in the breach · participle present honoring in the breach · participle past honored in the breach · past honored in the breach

1. USidiomatictransitiveTo demonstrate (a rule, law, or policy) by breaking or breaching it.

   Many religious precepts are honoured in the breach.

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

   1 more example

   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.

   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]