set a precedent; break the rules
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
set a precedent; establish an undesirable example for others to follow
formalUsed to describe the act of doing something that is not explicitly allowed, thereby creating a troublesome example or standard for future actions. Often implies a negative consequence.
Zhè这
zhǒng种
shì事
qing情
jué绝
duì对
bù不
néng能
kāi开
lì例
。
We absolutely cannot set a precedent for this kind of thing.
Rú如
guǒ果
cóng从
zhè这
gè个
yuán员
gōng工
kāi开
shǐ始
pò破
lì例
pī批
zhǔn准
jià假
qī期
，
jiù就
děng等
yú于
gěi给
quán全
gōng公
sī司
kāi开
le了
gè个
hěn很
huài坏
de的
xiān先
lì例
。
If we make an exception and approve leave for this employee, it would set a very bad precedent for the entire company.
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Lǐng领
dǎo导
shuō说
le了
，
zhè这
cì次
shì是
tè特
shì事
tè特
bàn办
，
xià下
bù不
wéi为
lì例
，
jué绝
bù不
néng能
kāi开
lì例
。
The leader said this is a special case handled specially, and it must not set a precedent for the future.