Rugby
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CULTURAL NOTE There are two forms of rugby: Rugby Union and Rugby League. Rugby Union Rugby Union used to be played only by AMATEURS (=people who are not paid), but in 1995 the rules were changed to allow players to be paid, and the most successful clubs formed a professional LEAGUE (=a group of clubs that play against each other). There are 15 players in each team. Rugby Union is played internationally in many countries including Australia, Fiji, France, Italy, South Africa, Argentina, England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and New Zealand. Teams from these countries sometimes play against each other. In England it is played especially in PUBLIC SCHOOLS (=expensive private schools), and it is thought of as a mainly MIDDLE-CLASS game. Rugby League Rugby League is a professional game played mainly in the north of England and also in Australia. There are 13 players on each team, and the rules are slightly different from Rugby Union. In the UK it is thought of as a mainly WORKING-CLASS game. Both types of rugby are rough hard games in which players often get injured, and rugby players are typically large strong-looking men.
Rug·by /'rʌgbi/ a town in central England best known for the PUBLIC SCHOOL (=expensive private school) called Rugby School, where the game of rugby was first played
Rugby 'League n [U] a type of rugby played by teams of players who are usually paid for playing
'rugby ,shirt n a shirt, usually with wide bands of two different colours worn by rugby football players and also as a fashion
Rugby 'Union n [U] a type of rugby played by teams of 15 players
rug·ged /'rʌgəd/ adj 1 having a rough uneven surface: rugged hills | rugged terrain 2 strongly built; STURDY: You need a fairly rugged vehicle for crossing the desert. | (fig.) She admired his rugged good looks. —ly adv —ness n [U]
rug·ger /'rʌgə/ n [U] Rugby Union football. Many people think of this word as UPPER CLASS or used only in the British PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
rug·rat /'rʌgræt/ n infml especially AmE a very young child: Just wait till you have a rugrat of your own!
Rug-rats /'rʌgræts/ a children's CARTOON shown on television, about a group of very young children in the US. They all play together, and they always imagine they are involved in exciting adventures, even though they are really doing ordinary activities.
ruins
ru·in¹ /'ru:ɪn/ n 1 [U] (something that causes) complete failure or loss of one's money, position, moral standards etc; DOWNFALL: His rashness led ultimately to his ruin. | With the collapse of grain prices the small farmers are on the brink of (financial) ruin. | The country is going to rack and ruin. 2 [U] a condition of destruction and decay: The ancient temple had fallen into ruin. 3 [C] also ruins pl. — the remains of a building that has fallen down or been (partly) destroyed: There's an interesting old ruin at the top of that hill. | We picked our way through the ruins of the bombed building. 4 in ruins (of a building) ruined: The castle now lies in ruins. | (fig.) His life/career is in ruins. → see also MOTHER'S RUIN
ruin² v [T] 1 to destroy or spoil (completely): an ancient ruined city | The rain ruined my painting/our holiday/her hairstyle. | You'll ruin your chances of the job if you wear that shirt to the interview. | disclosures that ruined her reputation 2 to cause total loss of money to: I was (financially) ruined by that law suit.
ru·in·a·tion /ˌru:'neɪʃən/ n [U] (the cause of) being ruined: You'll be the ruination of me, spending all that money!
ru·in·ous /'ru:ɪnəs/ adj causing or likely to cause destruction or total loss of money: The cost will be ruinous. | a ruinous war —ly adv: ruinously expensive
rule¹ /ru:l/ n 1 [C] a) an official or accepted principle or order which guides behaviour, says how things are to be done etc: It's against the rules to handle the ball in football. | You must obey/observe the rules. | There's a penalty if you break the rules. | the rules of tennis | the club rules | [+that] We have a rule that the loser of the game buys everyone a drink. | I get so annoyed by all these petty rules and regulations. | You're not really allowed to do that, but perhaps on this occasion we can bend/stretch the rules. (=break the rules slightly) b) the usual way that something happens: the rules of grammar | Snow here in April is the exception, not the rule. (=is unusual) | As a rule (=usually) I get home by seven o'clock. 2 [U] a period or way of ruling: The country prospered under her wise rule. | Our nation is under foreign rule. (=governed by foreigners) | Everyone is subject to the rule of law. | mob rule 3 [C] a RULER: a two-foot rule → see also GOLDEN RULE, GROUND RULE, HOME RULE, QUEENSBERRY RULES, RULE OF THUMB, SLIDE RULE, work to rule (WORK)
rule² v 1 [(over);T] to control or be the person in charge of (a country, people etc): Alexander the Great ruled (over) a large empire. 2 [T] to have a controlling influence over: Don't let the desire for money rule your life. | He let his heart rule his head. (=made decisions according to his feelings rather than his judgment) | Be ruled by me (=take my advice); don't agree to do it. 3 [+adv/prep; T] (especially in law) to give an official decision (on): It is up to the courts to rule on this matter. | The court has ruled in favour of the sacked employee. | [+that] The judge ruled that she must pay the money back. | [+obj+adj/adv/prep] The judge ruled him out of order/in contempt of court. | The company's behaviour has been ruled unlawful. → see also RULING 4 [T] to draw (a line) using a ruler or similar straight edge 5 ... rules OK BrE slang a phrase used with names especially of football teams or GANGS of youths, usually written on walls etc as GRAFFITI and meaning that the team/gang mentioned is considered to be the best by its supporters/members: Arsenal rules OK. | Gelderd Boot Boys rule OK. 6 rule the roost infml to be in charge: It's his wife who really rules the roost in that house. 7 rule someone with a rod of iron/with an iron hand to govern (especially a group) in a very severe way
rule sthg./sbdy. ⇔ out phr v [T] 1 to say that (something or someone) is not under consideration as a possibility: The police have ruled out foul play. | We can't rule out the possibility that she was murdered by her husband. 2 to make it impossible for (something) to happen, (someone) to do something etc: Rain ruled out further play. | An ankle injury ruled him out for the big match.
rule·book /'ru:lbʊk/ n 1 [C] a book of rules, especially one given to workers on a job 2 [the S] the set of all the rules of a particular activity: He always goes by (=obeys) the rulebook
Rule Bri'tannia a song about the power Britain used to have at sea because of its navy, which is sung on PATRIOTIC occasions, such as the LAST NIGHT OF THE PROMS:
Rule Britannia, Britannia rule the waves,
Britons never, never, never shall be slaves.
ruled /ru:ld/ adj (of paper) having parallel lines drawn on it
rule of 'thumb n [C;U] a principle or method based on practical sense and experience rather than exact rules or calculations: As a rough rule of thumb, each £1000 you borrow will cost you £10 a month in repayments.
rul·er /'ru:lə/ n 1 someone such as a king or queen who has official power over a country or area 2 a long flat straight piece of plastic, metal, or wood that you use for measuring things or drawing straight lines → compare TAPE MEASURE
rul·ing¹ /'ru:lɪŋ/ n [(on)] an official decision, especially of a court: We're anxiously awaiting the court's ruling on the matter. | [+that] The judge gave a ruling that they should pay all the money back. → see also RULE