Regulation and compliance is of vital importance in the corporate world. Following rules and regulations helps keep people safe and lowers environmental damage. Here are some great regulation and compliance related idioms to get you started.
| Idiom | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Red tape (n) | Annoying rules and regulations. | Following the red tape of government regulations can be time-consuming and frustrating. |
| Jump through hoops (v) | To complete a series of difficult or complicated tasks. | To get a business license, we had to jump through hoops, filling out numerous forms and providing various documents. |
| Toe the line (v) | To follow rules or regulations strictly. | Businesses must toe the line when it comes to environmental regulations to avoid fines and penalties. |
| Be/stay on the straight and narrow (v) | To follow rules and regulations strictly. | Our company is committed to being on the straight and narrow, ensuring compliance with all applicable laws. |
| Keep your nose clean (v) | To avoid getting into trouble or breaking the law. | To avoid legal issues, businesses must keep their nose clean and adhere to regulations. |
| Play by the rules (v) | To follow the established rules or regulations. | Companies that play by the rules can build a positive reputation and avoid legal risks. |
| By the letter of the law (adj) | Strictly according to the rules or regulations. | Our company always does things by the letter of the law, ensuring compliance with all regulations. |
| A pain in the neck (n) | A nuisance or annoyance. | Dealing with regulatory compliance can be a real pain in the neck, but it’s necessary for avoiding legal issues. |
| A headache (n) | A problem or annoyance. | Ensuring compliance with data privacy regulations is a headache for many businesses. |
| A nightmare (n) | A very bad or unpleasant experience. | Navigating the complex web of environmental regulations can be a nightmare for businesses. |
| Fly under the radar (v) | Try to be invisible to authorities. | Some businesses try to fly under the radar, hoping to avoid regulatory oversight. |
| Play by your own rules (p) | Ignoring the rules. | Companies that play by their own rules can face serious legal consequences. |
| Bend the rules (v) | Ignore or violating rules. | Some businesses may be tempted to bend the rules to gain a competitive advantage, but this can lead to legal trouble. |
| A recipe for disaster | A situation that is likely to end badly. | Ignoring safety regulations is a recipe for disaster, potentially leading to accidents and injuries. |
| Tick all the boxes (v) | To meet all the requirements or criteria. | To obtain a business license, we must tick all the boxes on the application form. |
| To tick boxes (v) | To fulfill requirements superficially without real effort. | Some companies merely tick boxes to appear compliant with regulations but lack substance. |
| Pay lip service (v) | To express support or agreement without sincere commitment. | Some companies pay lip service to environmental sustainability but fail to take meaningful action. |
| Go through the motions (v) | To perform a task superficially without real effort. | Some businesses go through the motions of compliance but fail to address underlying issues. |
| Keep up appearances (v) | Maintain a positive public image. | Many companies focus on keeping up appearances, ensuring that they appear to be compliant with regulations. |
| Follow the herd (v) | Do what everyone else is doing. | Some businesses follow the herd when it comes to regulatory compliance, rather than taking a proactive approach. |
| A paper tiger (n) | A threat that appears serious but is actually weak or ineffective. | The company’s compliance program may seem impressive on paper, but it’s a paper tiger with little substance. |
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