"The Exception That Proves The Rule"
Actually it's quite funny, because it means the exact opposite of how the sheeple use it.

(In case you didn't know, "prove" in this context means "test", not "confirm". If there's an exception, the rule has been *disproved* - it's not a valid rule.)
(moon monkey is busy making memories worth repressing, Thu 31 Mar 2011, 17:23, 8 replies)

I've never used the phrase
purely because I didn't understand what it meant, so thank you.
( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Thu 31 Mar 2011, 17:30, closed)

best illustrated by example
"No sports attire to be worn in the bar after 5pm"

The rule being that you can wear sports attire in the bar before 5.

This was the sign on the bar at my dad's cricket club - drives me mad when people get it wrong and use it to justify the unusual.
(MostlySunny, Thu 7 Apr 2011, 12:57, closed)

Your explanation is mistaken.
It's a term from medieval law (exceptio probat regulam in casibus non exceptis: "the exception confirms the rule in cases not excepted"); basically, it says that the mere fact that an exception can or should be made proves that there is a rule to begin with.
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Fri 1 Apr 2011, 10:50, closed)

Nope
The OP is correct - just look at the phrase 'proving ground' (i.e. a testing ground, not a place where you go to prove yourself).
(Heggy, Mon 4 Apr 2011, 11:23, closed)

Enzyme must be very good at Latin if he just made that phrase up in order to be wrong.
(richardm, Tue 5 Apr 2011, 17:17, closed)

This goes all the way back to Cicero - nothing to do with "proving grounds" (cf. proving bread btw).

Wikipedia summarises Fowler's take on it, and it's as described in Enzyme's reply.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exceptio_probat_regulam
(e_logic, Tue 5 Apr 2011, 22:41, closed)

Yes, but you said "sheeple" so you can fuck off.

( Dr Preference AjcuiVd289, Sat 2 Apr 2011, 17:46, closed)

Sort of
But I have an entirely rational hatred of anyone who uses the word "sheeple", so you're fucking wrong.
(apologies_for_length, Sun 3 Apr 2011, 1:36, closed)