rule of engagement

Definitions

1. An internal rule among a military, police, etc. force defining the circumstances in which and manner with which to use force.
   in-plural
2. An implied set of rules for when to undertake a certain approach.
   figuratively

Equivalents

Examples

“The military, which acknowledged that the killings violated its rules of engagement, announced the deaths on Friday, hours after saying it had recovered the bodies of three other Israeli hostages in Gaza.”

CEFR level