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• All's fair in love and war
  All's fair in love and war

  People in love and soldiers in wartime are not bound by the rules of fair play.
• all's fair in love and war
  all's fair in love and war

  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.

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.

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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.

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

All's fair in love and war all's fair in love and war

"All's fair in love and war and Somerset have taken criticism for the quality of some of the pitches that have prepared in recent matches."

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2016

Why Some Male Marsh Harriers Dress in Drag All's fair in love and war, even among marsh harriers, a bird of prey found in western France.

From Science Magazine ● Dec. 22, 2011

All's fair in love and war, so you oughtn't to blame me for anything I've done.

From Set in Silver by A. M. (Alice Muriel) Williamson

"All's fair in love and war," he said, as he looked about him.

From With Joffre at Verdun A Story of the Western Front by Archibald Webb

There is an old saying, "All's fair in love and war," but no one ever meant that.

From The Book of Life by Upton Sinclair

“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

"Oh, all's fair in love and war," Harriet answered cheerfully, as she helped Beth off with her boots; "and you and yer ma's at war again, I guess."

From The Beth Book Being a Study of the Life of Elizabeth Caldwell Maclure, a Woman of Genius by Sarah Grand

One good thing is, we understand the situation, and all's fair in love and war.

From A Texas Matchmaker by Andy Adams

Well, all's fair in love and war, they say.

From What Answer? by Anna E. Dickinson

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