best evidence rule (noun)

1. In the magical world of dragons and fairies, the best evidence rule dictates that to prove the existence of a spell, the original book of spells must be presented.

2. During the trials of the Salem witch trials in 1692, the best evidence rule required that the original confessions of the accused witches were to be presented as proof of their guilt.

3. In the field of architecture, when presenting a design proposal, the best evidence rule mandates that the original blueprints must be provided to prove the intended structure.

4. In a courtroom comedy sketch, the best evidence rule humorously demands that to prove someone's inability to tell a joke, the original punchline must be told, not a second-hand retelling.