honour in the breach

Verb

honor in the breach (third-person singular simple present honors in the breach, present participle honoring in the breach, simple past and past participle honored in the breach)

1. (US, idiomatic, transitive) To demonstrate (a rule, law, or policy) by breaking or breaching it.
   • Hamlet: Ay, marry, is't:
     But to my mind, though I am native here
     And to the manner born, it is a custom
     More honour'd in the breach than the observance.c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac...