play by the rules

present singular third person plays by the rules · participle present playing by the rules · participle past played by the rules · past played by the rules

1. to do what is expected.

   Perhaps because it played by the rules while challenging them at the same time, Brokeback Mountain's place in film history is assured.

   2025 June 20, Nick Levine, “'In every theatre, people would leave': How 'gay cowboy movie' Brokeback Mountain challenged Hollywood – and the US”, in BBC

   1 more example

   Michael De Santa (Ned Luke): You (Devin Weston) paid a private company to do your dirty work for ya, and then you underpaid that company because you thought you were big enough and bad enough that you didn't have to play by the rules.

   2013, Rockstar Games, Grand Theft Auto V, scene: The Third Way

   Synonyms: play the game