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The expression is referring to an implicit or unstated rule. Defining it is hard but people know when it has been broken. Hooters is an exception, the rule is,
by junkjunkjunkjun 2y ago
The expression is referring to an implicit or unstated rule. Defining it is hard but people know when it has been broken. Hooters is an exception, the rule is, don't be like Hooters.
- timknauf 2y agoThank you! I never understood the expression, but this explanation was immediately clarifying for me.
- card_zero 2y agoI see from Wiktionary that it was originally a legal concept, expressed in medieval Latin. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/exception_that_proves_the_rule https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/exception_that_proves_the_rul... Just as you say, the point is that a rule is implied by a specific exception, as in the example "free entry on Sundays", which implies the unstated rule "pay for entry on other days". The exception weakens the rule, it's true, but may also reveal the rule.