rule out

écarter, exclure

Décider qu’une chose n’est pas possible ou ne doit pas être envisagée.

En anglais simple : To decide that something is not possible or should not be considered.

• We cannot rule out a mistake.
• The tests ruled out an infection.
• Police have ruled her out as a suspect.

Comment l'utiliser : rule someone/something out as something (Police ruled him out as a suspect.); rule out doing something (We have ruled out buying a larger house.)

Synonymes : exclude, eliminate, discount

Expressions courantes : rule out a possibility, rule out a suspect

empêcher, rendre impossible

Rendre un événement ou une action impossible.

En anglais simple : To prevent something from being possible.

• Heavy rain ruled out a picnic.
• The cost rules out any chance of buying it.
• Her injury has ruled out competing this season.

Comment l'utiliser : rule out doing something (His injury ruled out playing in the final.)

Synonymes : prevent, preclude

Contraires : enable

Expressions courantes : rule out any chance, rule out a trip

rendre indisponible, mettre hors jeu

Empêcher une personne de participer à une activité ou une chose d’être utilisée pour un usage donné.

En anglais simple : To make someone or something unavailable for a particular use or activity.

• An injury ruled out our goalkeeper.
• Repairs have ruled out the hall for this event.
• He was ruled out of the final with a broken ankle.

Comment l'utiliser : rule someone out of something (An injury ruled her out of the match.); be ruled out for something (The hall was ruled out for our meeting because of repairs.)

Expressions courantes : rule out a player, rule out a venue

interdire

Décider officiellement qu’une chose n’est pas autorisée.

En anglais simple : To decide officially that something is not allowed.

• The committee ruled out outside help.
• The judge ruled out questions about her family.
• Competition rules rule out the use of engines.

Synonymes : forbid, disallow, prohibit

Contraires : allow, permit

Expressions courantes : rule out a method, rule out such practices

barrer, rayer

Tracer un trait droit sur des mots écrits ou un élément d’une liste.

En anglais simple : To draw a straight line through written words or an item on a list.

• Rule out the wrong answer.
• He ruled out the last entry with a ruler.
• The old address had been ruled out in red ink.

Comment l'utiliser : rule something out (She ruled the wrong name out with a pencil.)

Synonymes : cross out, strike out

Expressions courantes : rule out a word, rule out an entry