Example: De uitzondering bevestigt de regel in deze situatie duidelijk.
Definition
"De uitzondering bevestigt de regel" is a Dutch phrase meaning that an exception to a general rule actually confirms the existence or validity of that rule. It suggests that recognizing an exception implies the presence of a rule that the exception deviates from.
Translations
the exception proves the rule
la excepción confirma la regla
l'excepció confirma la regla
l'exception confirme la règle
die Ausnahme bestätigt die Regel
l'eccezione conferma la regola
a exceção confirma a regra
Etymology
The phrase "de uitzondering bevestigt de regel" originates from Latin legal and philosophical traditions where acknowledging exceptions helped validate general principles. The saying has been used in Dutch for centuries to express that exceptions highlight the underlying norms or rules.
Learn to use this expression actively
"De uitzondering bevestigt de regel" appears in the Vocaplus list "Dutch - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (C2) - set 1", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
Would you like to not only understand these expressions, but also remember them and use them actively? Create a free account and select Dutch as the language you want to learn.
the exception proves the rule