All's fair in love and war

Cultural  

1. People in love and soldiers in wartime are not bound by the rules of fair play.

---

all's fair in love and war Idioms  

1. Any conduct is permissible in certain circumstances, as in Of course he called her—all's fair in love and war. This maxim, stated in various forms from 1579 on, today sometimes appears altered by an addition or substitution, as in All's fair in love and the World Series, or All's fair in love and war and an election year.

---

Discover More

This proverb is frequently used when two people are contending for the love of a third.

Example Sentences

“I love that because it also all’s fair in love and war and politics.”

From Washington Times • Dec. 2, 2023

"We really weren't … but hey, all's fair in love and war."

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 25, 2018

Come, now, all's fair in love and war.

From Tom Brown at Oxford by Hughes, Thomas

Nevertheless, on the principle that all’s fair in love and war, she fought this off.

From The Dust Flower by Kline, Hibberd V. B. (Hibberd Van Buren)

He's a good fellow, and I like him dearly; but all's fair in love and war; and I must go down to Calcombe to-morrow morning and forestall him immediately.

From Philistia by Allen, Grant