More honoured in the breach than in the observance

Definitions

• discourage someone
  Advise against engaging in a particular activity or task, cautioning that it will not result in any positive outcome or benefit

• hypocritical behavior
  Describe a situation where a rule or custom is often violated or ignored, making it more respected when it is not followed than when it is followed

Examples of More honoured in the breach than in the observance

• The lawmaker's promise to support a bill was more honoured in the breach than in the observance.

  In this example, "in the breach" means when the promise was broken or not kept, and "in the observance" means when the promise was being followed or kept. This idiom suggests that the broken promise, while not ideal, may hold more respect or honour than the promise that is actually kept because it takes more courage to break a promise than to follow through with it.

• Despite the company's commitment to sustainability, their actions often proved more honoured in the breach than in the observance.

  This example refers to instances where the company's actions didn't align with their stated values or goals. While committing to sustainability is a noble gesture, if the company falls short of meeting these standards, the initial pledge may carry more weight than any subsequent but less reliable efforts.

• In his campaign speeches, the politician frequently promised to address major issues, but his policies in office proved more honoured in the breach than in the observance.

  This example highlights the tendency of politicians to make promises during their campaigns that they may not be able to fulfil after being elected. It's a criticism of the politician's lack of follow-through, with the suggestion that it's better to fail to deliver on a promise than to break it entirely.

• Her decision to quit her job took more courage than honoring her commitment to work for five more years, which would have been more honoured in the breach than in the observance.

  Here, "honoured" refers to the respect and admiration that someone might receive for keeping their promises. By quitting her job, the person in this example showed more integrity and courage than she would have by remaining in a position that didn't suit her. Conversely, fulfilling her commitment would have been regarded as honourable, but it might not have been as significant or meaningful as the decision to leave ended up being.

• The decision to pardon the convicted criminal was more honoured in the breach than in the observance.

  This idiom implies that although the decision to pardon the criminal was made, it was not carried out as intended. The term "breach" here refers to a failure to follow through with the decision, while "observance" refers to the act of carrying out the decision as intended. This idiom suggests that sometimes decisions are made, but they are not followed through, and therefore, the intentions behind the decision are not fulfilled.

• The politician's promises to improve the education system were more honoured in the breach than in the observance.

  This idiomical expression shows that although the politician made promises to improve the education system, those promises were not kept. The term "breach" refers to the failure to keep the promises, while "observance" refers to the act of keeping them. This idiom highlights the fact that sometimes promises are made, but they are not fulfilled, and consequently, the promises lose their value and trustworthiness.

• The judge's orders to maintain law and order in the community were more honoured in the breach than in the observance.

  This idiomatic expression implies that although the judge gave orders to maintain law and order in the community, those orders were not carried out as intended. The term "breach" here refers to a failure to follow the orders, while "observance" refers to the act of following them. This idiom suggests that sometimes orders or decisions are given, but they are not followed through, and the actions taken are not in accordance with the orders or decisions given.

• The athlete's commitment to training hard for the upcoming competition was more honoured in the breach than in the observance.

  This idiomatic expression shows that although the athlete promised to train hard for the competition, that commitment was not fulfilled. The term "breach" refers to a failure to fulfil the commitment, while "observance" refers to the act of fulfilling it. This idiom suggests that sometimes commitments are made, but they are not kept, and the actions taken are not in accordance with the commitments made.

Conclusion

The idiom "more honoured in the breach than in the observance" can be used to discourage someone from engaging in a particular activity or task by cautioning that it will not result in any positive outcome or benefit. It can also be used to describe hypocritical behavior, where a rule or custom is often violated or ignored, making it more respected when it is not followed than when it is followed.

Origin of "More honoured in the breach than in the observance"

The phrase "more honoured in the breach than in the observance" originated from William Shakespeare's play "Hamlet." In Act 1, Scene 4, Hamlet uses the phrase to criticize the custom of heavy drinking at social gatherings. The origin of the idiom suggests that it refers to a custom or rule that is more respected when it is not followed than when it is followed. Over time, the phrase has come to be used more broadly to describe situations where something is held in higher regard when it is not adhered to. Its usage has expanded to cover various contexts beyond the original reference in "Hamlet." Examples of this idiom can be found in literature, speeches, and everyday conversations.