Collocations for principle - noun
1. basic general rule
ADJ.
basic, broad, central, fundamental, general
the basic principles of car maintenance
the basic principles of car maintenance
cardinal, essential, key | universal | democratic, legal, market, political, scientific, theoretical
VERB + PRINCIPLE
establish, formulate, lay down | apply | explain
PRINCIPLE + VERB
apply
This principle applies to all kinds of selling.
This principle applies to all kinds of selling.
underlie sth, underpin sth
the principles underlying Western philosophy
the principles underlying Western philosophy
PREP.
in ~
I agree with you in principle, but we''ll need to discuss the details.
I agree with you in principle, but we''ll need to discuss the details.
~ behind
She went on to explain the principles behind what she was doing.
She went on to explain the principles behind what she was doing.
2. rule for good behaviour
ADJ.
high | guiding | Christian | moral
He was a man of high moral principles.
He was a man of high moral principles.
VERB + PRINCIPLE
betray, compromise
I refuse to compromise my principles by eating meat.
I refuse to compromise my principles by eating meat.
adhere to, stick to
She sticks to the principle that everyone should be treated equally.
She sticks to the principle that everyone should be treated equally.
PREP.
against your ~s
Eating meat was against her principles.
Eating meat was against her principles.
on ~
She''s opposed to abortion on principle.
She''s opposed to abortion on principle.
PHRASES
a matter of principle
They reject the proposal as a matter of principle.
They reject the proposal as a matter of principle.
a person of principle
(= a person with high moral standards)
(= a person with high moral standards)