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Of course, Elizabeth, the word "taboo" sprang into my mind immediatly after that I read what you wrote.

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Quote:

Quote:

I'd probably use sacred cow to describe a person.




It can be pretty much anything.




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Log: "Dangerous ground" is as close as I can come: subjects the discussion of which--however neutral--is nonetheless risky for fear of offense or misunderstanding. Like, in company one doesn't discuss religion or politics. You don't want to suggest that some sex laws might be overly harsh for fear of being suspected of perversion. In today's conservative atmosphere you mustn't suggest any flaws in the American character else you're branded unpatriotic

Log, don't be disappointed if you can't find the perfect expression. Often there's simply no word for the concept


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Quote:

Something more like "golden rule"... like, "this is the golden rule of our company, and you can't expect it to ever be changed."

But I know there's another word for it. Dang it.




Set in stone? I put that into Onelook's Reverse Dictionary, but it gave mostly ref.'s to stones, so I put in 'inviolable'; you might want to see if any of these are what you're looking for:
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Logwood, examine the words you used when you re-asked your question.

"The word or idiom I forgot is used to describe rules and functions that should remain as they are, and should be unmentionable or unspeakable as for being changed or removed."

That, Logwood, is incoherent.

Collect your thoughts and reword your question.

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Well then,

The word or idiom I forgot is used to describe rules and functions that should be unmentionable as for being changed or removed.

Hope that's better. I can't think of a better way to describe it....

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Sorry Logwood, I can't understand the words that you used in your question as for being answered or forgotten.

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Pay no attention to Milo, Logwood, He's just being persnickety. I understood you just fine. I like taboo better than sacred cow. Sacred cow carries with it the connotation of a foolishly held belief.

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Quote:

Pay no attention to Milo, Logwood, He's just being persnickety. I understood you just fine. I like taboo better than sacred cow. Sacred cow carries with it the connotation of a foolishly held belief.




Well then, Mister Faldage, don't be persnickety, speak aloud what you think Logwood has said.

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Wull … I dunno, Milo. What part didn't you understand?

He wants to know the term for rules the changing of which is not even discussed. Examples of such rules might include the banning of eating human flesh or of the mating of close relatives.

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