Jen: Hey, how is your new apartment?
Mike: It’s great except for one thing. I am not allowed to have any pets. But I really want to get a dog. Do you think I can bend the rules and get one?
Jen: Nope, I don’t think you can bend the rules like that.

오늘 본문에서 제가 “How is your new apartment? 새로 이사 간 아파트는 어때?” 라고 묻자 Mike가 “It’s great except for one thing. 한 가지만 빼고 다 좋아. I am not allowed to have any pets. But I really want to get a dog. 아파트 규칙이 애완동물을 못 기르게 하거든. 그런데 난 정말 강아지가 있었으면 좋겠어. Do you think I can bend the rules and get one? 에이, 그 규칙 너무 신경 쓰지 말고 그냥 강아지를 데려올까?”라고 하네요.

이어 제가 “Nope, I don’t think you can bend the rules like that. 아니야, 그렇게 규칙을 네 마음대로 해석하면 안 되지.”라고 합니다. Now keep today’s expression, ‘bend the rules’ in mind and let’s hear the conversation again. 그럼 다시 한번 대화를 들어볼까요?

Jen: Hey, how is your new apartment?
Mike: It’s great except for one thing. I am not allowed to have any pets. But I really want to get a dog. Do you think I can bend the rules and get one?
Jen: Nope, I don’t think you can bend the rules like that.

Today’s expression is bend the rules. To bend something means to change its shape. And a ‘rule’ is a set of regulations governing actions within a particular activity. So when you bend the rules, it means that you don't exactly follow them. It simply means to make an exception to the rule.

Bend the rules에서 bend는 구부리다 변형시키다 라는 뜻이고요 rule은 규칙이죠. 원래는 허용이 안 되는 것인데 하게 해주다. 편의를 봐 주기 위해 규칙을 무시하거나 바꾸다 라는 뜻입니다. 규칙을 변칙적으로 적용하거나 상황에 따라 확대해석 한다는 말이죠.

오늘 본문에서 Mike가 제게 새로 이사 간 아파트는 애완동물을 못 키우게 하지만 Mike는 강아지를 키우고 싶다며 아파트 규칙을 자신에게 유리하게 해석하면 안 되느냐고 물어봤죠. “But I really want to get a dog. Do you think I can bend the rules and get one?”라고요.

그럼 예문을 통해 오늘 표현에 대해 더 자세히 알아보겠습니다. “I don’t usually let customers return their items after 30 days, but I’m willing to bend the rules on this occasion.”라고 하면 “저는 보통 고객들에게 30일 후에는 물건을 반납하지 못하게 하는데, 이번만 봐 드릴게요.” 라는 뜻이 됩니다.

이 표현 잘 기억하시고요. 오늘의 대화를 마지막으로 들어보겠습니다. Now that you know what today’s expression means, let’s listen to the conversation for the last time.

Jen: Hey, how is your new apartment?
Mike: It’s great except for one thing. I am not allowed to have any pets. But I really want to get a dog. Do you think I can bend the rules and get one?
Jen: Nope, I don’t think you can bend the rules like that.

Let’s review. Bend the rules means to allow something to be done that is not usually allowed. BEND THE RULES.