Social Norms & Conformity: English Vocabulary List

someone who expresses an opinion that others ignore or do not like

"A voice crying wilderness."

"The scientist warning about climate change was a voice crying in the wilderness for many years."

used to refer to something that is done in a way that is contrary to the usual customs, conventions, or the natural direction

"It goes against grain."

"Going against the grain of popular opinion can be difficult but sometimes it is necessary."

someone who does not behave according to rules or expectations of society

"He is law unto himself."

"The eccentric artist was a law unto himself, ignoring all conventional artistic norms and expectations."

(of a person's words or actions) not according to what is considered acceptable or polite

"His words beyond pale."

"The politician's racist remarks were considered beyond the pale by the majority of the electorate."

to act so differently that it changes traditional or previous methods or approaches

"She broke the mold."

"The innovative scientist decided to break the mold of traditional research methods to find new solutions."

to show a behavior that is unacceptable or improper

"He crossed the line."

"His constant personal insults clearly crossed the line during the heated debate."

to act in a way that is not in accordance with rules or socially accepted behavior

"You stepped out of line."

"If you step out of line again, you will face serious consequences from the principal."

an idea, custom, or institution considered immune from criticism or questioning

"That policy is a sacred cow."

"The company's long-standing tradition of mandatory overtime has become a sacred cow that no one dares to question."

a limit that makes clear what is considered right or accepted and what is not

"Draw a line in sand."

"The company drew a firm line in the sand regarding employee conduct after the incident."

to behave in a manner that is in contrast to the standards of a particular place

"They broke every rule."

"The rogue agent seemed to break every rule in the book to achieve his mission objectives."

the socially accepted or expected behavior or action in a particular situation

"It is the done thing."

"Bringing a small gift when invited to someone's home is generally considered the done thing."

a person's natural tendency or urge to conform to the standards or the behavior of others in a particular group or society

"They showed herd mentality."

"The stock market crash was partly attributed to widespread herd mentality among investors."

to do or think the exact opposite of what most people are doing or thinking

"She swims against the tide."

"He always chooses to swim against the tide, preferring his own unique perspective."

to do things according to the rules, customs, or in the way that is expected of one in order to achieve profit or success

"Play the game for profit."

"To get ahead in this industry, you really have to play the game and follow the established procedures."

to start behaving in a manner that ignores the expectations of society or an authority

"The soldier went rogue."

"After years of strict obedience, the normally compliant employee decided to go rogue and voice his dissent."

to act in a way that goes beyond the limits of what is allowed or accepted

"Don't overstep the line."

"His constant interruptions and personal insults clearly showed he had overstepped the mark during the debate."

beyond the limits of acceptable behavior

"That is out of bounds."

"His offensive remarks during the meeting were completely out of bounds and deeply inappropriate for the professional setting."