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rule out

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rule someone or something out

to prevent, disqualify, overrule, or cancel someone or something. John's bad temper rules him out for the job. The rainy weather ruled out a picnic for the weekend.

See also: out, rule

rule out something

also rule something out

to stop considering something as a possibility My doctor has ruled out drinking tea or coffee. Let's see how much the trip will cost before we rule it out.

See also: out, rule

rule out

1. Eliminate from consideration, exclude, as in The option of starting over again has been ruled out. [Second half of 1800s]

2. Prevent, make impossible, as in The snowstorm ruled out our weekly rehearsal. [First half of 1900s]

See also: out, rule

rule out

v.

1. To prevent or preclude something: The snowstorm ruled out their weekly meeting. Our lack of funds ruled the vacation plans out.

2. To eliminate something from consideration; exclude something: The referee has ruled out the option of starting over. I wanted to drop the course, but school policy ruled that option out.

3. To draw a line or lines through something to delete or obscure it; cross something out: The copyeditors ruled out all of our mistakes on the manuscript.

See also: out, rule