work to rule

Idioms are generally defined as groups of words that form a meaningful whole when they come together, even though the words in them do not make sense on their own. They have produced many idioms according to their own cultural characteristics in communities using the English language. What does work to rule mean? In what situations is work to rule used?

Meaning of "work to rule"

Meaning

The phrase “work to rule” refers to a type of protest by workers in which they deliberately follow all the rules and regulations of their job, to the letter, in order to cause their employer economic and reputational damage. The idea behind the protest is to impact the employer’s bottom line by slowing down production, thereby making it more difficult and more expensive to maintain the same production level.

Etymology

The phrase “work to rule” first appeared in print in the early 1970s, and its origin is unknown. The phrase has been used in several different contexts, but in the labor context it is often used to describe a particular form of protest by workers. The idea of working to the rules to cause disruption likely originated in the early 20th century labor movement, when striking was often prohibited or impractical.

Usage

Work to rule protests have been used by workers in a variety of settings, from offices and universities, to factories and hospitals. It is most often used when workers feel that their employer is not respecting their rights or treating them fairly. It is also used when other forms of protest may be difficult or even illegal, such as strikes. In this case, workers will take the protest to the employer in the form of slowing production or disrupting normal operations by adhering strictly to the rules of their job.

Example Sentences

• The factory workers are working to rule in order to protest the company's decision to reduce their benefits.
• The teachers decided to take a work to rule approach in order to demand higher pay.
• The hospital staff is using a work to rule strategy to highlight the dangerous working conditions they are facing.

The Global Spread of English Idioms

As English has become a global language, its idioms have spread far beyond the borders of the UK and USA. For instance, the idiom "beat around the bush" has equivalents in many other languages, such as "tourner autour du pot" in French and "dar vueltas al asunto" in Spanish. Meanwhile, other idioms have been adapted for local contexts, such as the Russian idiom "?? ???? ???????" (ne svoya rubashka), which translates to "not one's own shirt," meaning to be in an uncomfortable or unfamiliar situation.