Speech length and skirt length (phrase)

"There are no rules in debate except speech length and skirt length" is a common phrase used to describe the relationship between the rules of debate and the theory of debate. For example, the phrase might be used in response to a team arguing that "it's a rule that counterplans have to be nontopical." (Whether or not topical counterplans are legitimate is a theoretical issue, not a rule of debate.)

"Speech length" and "skirt length" refer to the format of debate and dress codes, respectively. The origin of the phrase is unclear.