Definition of exception in English:
exception
See synonyms for exceptionTranslate exception into Spanish
noun
A person or thing that is excluded from a general statement or does not follow a rule.
‘the drives between towns are a delight, and the journey to Graz is no exception’- ‘while he normally shies away from introducing resolutions, he made an exception in this case’
- ‘There are a number of well-established exceptions to the general rule and their list is not closed.’
- ‘I have a friend and neighbour called Peter Thomson who is an exception to the general rule.’
- ‘An exception to this general rule is formed by a cheque which bears on its front the letter R.’
- ‘There are always exceptions to the rule, but in general I think this is true.’
- ‘Most give pretty basic info with not a lot of flash, but there are always exceptions to the rule.’
- ‘Meldrew and Greengrass, though, are the exceptions rather than the rule, she says.’
- ‘The exceptions to the rule are on our coasts and hills - just where objectors do not want them to be.’
- ‘An exception puts a rule to test, it does not and cannot prove it in any way.’
- ‘Mr Gray believes the road should be treated as an exception to the rules because it is terraced.’
- ‘Luckily there is always an exception to every rule and this one is no different.’
- ‘Those sort of mechanical problems are the exception rather than the rule nowadays.’
- ‘The young girl featured in your article is the exception to the rule and I admire her for it.’
- ‘I know it's a generalisation, and I'm always open to see the exceptions to the rule.’
- ‘Now the state welfare budget is being cut, and new rules will end these exceptions.’
- ‘There were only a few exceptions to this general pattern of noninvolvement.’
- ‘There is an endless list of possible exceptions to this general outlook that may arise during the game.’
- ‘While no two life sentences will be identical, exceptions to this general pattern will be rare.’
- ‘In general the few exceptions are not allowed to be used as arguments for making bad law.’
- ‘Some play this rule with the exception that a spread of three aces can be held.’
- ‘A capable display by the man in the middle is now the exception rather than the rule.’
anomaly, irregularity, deviation, special case, departure, inconsistency, quirk, peculiarity, abnormality, oddityView synonyms
Pronunciation
Phrases
- take exception to
Object strongly to; be offended by.
‘they took exception to his bohemian demeanor’- ‘While we're no exception, we do take exception to those who think this is the beginning of the end of business on the Internet as we know it.’
- ‘The Attorney-General Philip Ruddock took exception to that, and took the rare step of publicly criticising the Police Commissioner.’
- ‘He hit her repeatedly on the head with a hammer after she made a throwaway remark he took exception to in a Halifax pub where she had been relaxing with friends.’
- ‘It's not so much that they are lairy or rude or stare at people, they just tend to be a bit loud when hammered and some people tend to take exception to that.’
- ‘You took exception to that in terms of verbal abuse and although that man posed no threat to you at all, you struck him two blows in the face.’
- ‘She added: ‘We think there was some frivolity and someone took exception to what was said or someone's action.’’
- ‘He took exception to that and immediately went out.’
- ‘The flame-haired midfielder refused to hold back, launching into a couple of tough tackles which the Argentines took exception to.’
- ‘And one woman made a comment that the other woman took exception to, and the voices got raised.’
- ‘This was the first line of questioning that Rix took exception to.’
- ‘So the Sikh protesters in Birmingham got their way, and succeeded in forcing a theatre to close a play they took exception to.’
- ‘Suddenly there is a remark that one of the party takes exception to, usually something stupid and inconsequential.’
- ‘He takes exception to what he considers to be the incestuous nature of many of the artist-run galleries.’
- ‘Tour buses, which Mr Poole takes exception to, are no bad thing if they are all well maintained and look dignified.’
- ‘He seems to think he has some feudal right to assault anyone whose face he takes exception to.’
- ‘I'm sure we've said nothing in class that you could take exception to.’
- ‘You will be aware, under the Standing Orders, that the issue the Minister has raised about my credibility is one I have every right to take exception to.’
- ‘Well, I'm sure some journalists would take exception to that and say that they're not partisans of one side or the other.’
- ‘There are two factors I really take exception to on television.’
- ‘One thing they do take exception to, though, is being moved.’
The fact that some cases do not follow a rule proves that the rule applies in all other cases.
‘That is the one part where the exception proves the rule.’- ‘Regarding the previous posting about the Washington Post OpEd, one could counter with ‘the exception proves the rule’ - wrong.’
- ‘Those who did not, such as Desmond Tutu, were the exceptions that proved the rule.’
- ‘His spell at Inter seems to have been the exception that proves the rule in terms of his value to a club.’
Except; not including.
‘all water sports, with the exception of scuba diving, are complimentary’- ‘The first half was utterly forgettable with the exception of just a few saving graces.’
- ‘Same thing happens over here as well with the exception of only a love relationship.’
- ‘If someone asks me how to spell a word, with the exception of just a few, I get it right.’
- ‘He had always been a forward and was usually very aggressive with the exception of today.’
- ‘However, this year with the exception of two late departures, the rooms were brilliant.’
- ‘The course on the day was in good condition with the exception of three sanded greens.’
- ‘The walls were fairly bare, with the exception of two paintings on opposite walls.’
- ‘In those that have been implemented, children are excluded, with the exception of those with diabetes.’
- ‘Outside Dublin, with the exception of North Dublin County, there was no serious rising.’
- ‘The country was isolated from any contact with the outside world, with the exception of China.’
- ‘The competition is open to all farmers with the exception of Pedigree Simmental breeders.’
- ‘Some of our matches have been easy and with the exception of the Wexford game we have been in control of most of the games.’
- ‘He said that with the exception of one apartment all curtains are in place.’
- ‘Everyone at the meeting with the exception of one was in agreement.’
- ‘They are all here with the exception of the father, who couldn't come.’
- ‘We found it impossible to go past this, with the exception of Emerald, who feasted on bacon and eggs.’
- ‘Fishermen around the coast with the exception of the south and west would be devastated, he said.’
- ‘Boil the water and lemon rind in a saucepan and add the remaining apricots with the exception of six halves.’
- ‘The Britpop wave never really took off in France, with the exception of Oasis and Blur, and perhaps Pulp.’
- ‘The two teams were on their feet for the best part of two and a half hours, with the exception of the interval break.’
With no one or nothing excluded.
‘almost without exception, all the residents are opposed to this vandalism’- ‘All of what he says about Derrida's thought is, without exception, false.’
- ‘Everyone is exceptionally polite, and everyone seems to speak English, without exception very good English.’
- ‘If one whole side on any issue chooses almost without exception to remain silent then the discussion simply doesn't take place.’
- ‘And last week the flag belonged to all New York, without exception, irrespective of colour, class or birthplace.’
- ‘Almost without exception they go straight into the file marked ‘Deleted Items’’
- ‘They are the same people with whom every single Friday, without exception, I have this conversation.’
- ‘Despite these disruptions, his teachers, without exception, remember him as high-achieving and friendly.’
- ‘Sources consulted are, without exception, English and French.’
- ‘There were numerous cases of people claiming to have the stuff for sale to the highest bidder, but they all without exception turned out to be fraudulent.’
- ‘This is the same with every doctor I've visited in my life, without exception; they never run on schedule.’
- ‘Everyone without exception, regardless of creed, colour, race or class!’
- ‘The Bulgarian police who had stopped them had without exception sent them on their way with smiles and good wishes, they said.’
- ‘Everyone, without exception, had had a pleasant Xmas and a fine New Year and all and sundry were in moods so dandy it was like Springtime come early.’
- ‘Prices are fair without exception and are comparable to those found at Oxford's faintly generic French chain restaurants.’
- ‘And then it struck me: every single one of them, without exception, was from my home state.’
- ‘Everyone, without exception, wanted a new era of friendship and peace.’
- ‘Almost without exception, children become more intelligent, almost day by day, and if you watch them, you can see this happen.’
- ‘The law will be applied without exception, notably in public places.’
- ‘Every newspaper, as far as I can see without exception, devoted pages and pages of print and photographs to reporting the march.’
- ‘It has left everybody here, without exception, just devastated.’
proverb
Origin
Late Middle English via Old French from Latin exceptio(n-), from excipere ‘take out’ (see except).
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