diff --git a/docs/make.jl b/docs/make.jl
index 1b2063ac4..71c4468c1 100644
--- a/docs/make.jl
+++ b/docs/make.jl
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ makedocs(
         "Introduction" => "index.md",
         "FAQ" => "FAQ.md",
         "Rule configurations and calling back into AD" => "config.md",
+        "Opting out of rules" => "opting_out_of_rules.md",
         "Writing Good Rules" => "writing_good_rules.md",
         "Complex Numbers" => "complex.md",
         "Deriving Array Rules" => "arrays.md",
diff --git a/docs/src/api.md b/docs/src/api.md
index 3b48151aa..491749f04 100644
--- a/docs/src/api.md
+++ b/docs/src/api.md
@@ -50,4 +50,6 @@ ProjectTo
 ```@docs
 ChainRulesCore.AbstractTangent
 ChainRulesCore.debug_mode
+ChainRulesCore.no_rrule
+ChainRulesCore.no_frule
 ```
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/src/opting_out_of_rules.md b/docs/src/opting_out_of_rules.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..87a2403f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/src/opting_out_of_rules.md
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+# [Opting out of rules](@id opt_out)
+
+It is common to define rules fairly generically.
+Often matching (or exceeding) how generic the matching original primal method is.
+Sometimes this is not the correct behaviour.
+Sometimes the AD can do better than this human defined rule.
+If this is generally the case, then we should not have the rule defined at all.
+But if it is only the case for a particular set of types, then we want to opt-out just that one.
+This is done with the [`@opt_out`](@ref) macro.
+
+Consider one a `rrule` for `sum` (the following simplified from the one in [ChainRules.jl](https://github.com/JuliaDiff/ChainRules.jl/blob/master/src/rulesets/Base/mapreduce.jl) itself)
+```julia
+function rrule(::typeof(sum), x::AbstractArray{<:Number}; dims=:)
+    y = sum(x; dims=dims)
+    project = ProjectTo(x)
+    function sum_pullback(ȳ)
+        # broadcasting the two works out the size no-matter `dims`
+        # project makes sure we stay in the same vector subspace as `x`
+        # no putting in off-diagonal entries in Diagonal etc
+        x̄ = project(broadcast(last∘tuple, x, ȳ)))
+        return (NoTangent(), x̄)
+    end
+    return y, sum_pullback
+end
+```
+
+That is a fairly reasonable `rrule` for the vast majority of cases.
+
+You might have a custom array type for which you could write a faster rule.
+For example, the pullback for summing a [`SkewSymmetric` (anti-symmetric)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skew-symmetric_matrix) matrix can be optimized to basically be `Diagonal(fill(ȳ, size(x,1)))`.
+To do that, you can indeed write another more specific [`rrule`](@ref).
+But another case is where the AD system itself would generate a more optimized case.
+
+For example, the [`NamedDimsArray`](https://github.com/invenia/NamedDims.jl) is a thin wrapper around some other array type.
+Its sum method is basically just to call `sum` on its parent.
+It is entirely conceivable[^1] that the AD system can do better than our `rrule` here.
+For example by avoiding the overhead of [`project`ing](@ref ProjectTo).
+
+To opt-out of using the generic `rrule` and to allow the AD system to do its own thing we use the
+[`@opt_out`](@ref) macro, to say to not use it for sum of `NamedDimsArrays`.
+
+```julia
+@opt_out rrule(::typeof(sum), ::NamedDimsArray)
+```
+
+We could even opt-out for all 1 arg functions.
+```@julia
+@opt_out rrule(::Any, ::NamedDimsArray)
+```
+Though this is likely to cause some method-ambiguities.
+
+Similar can be done  `@opt_out frule`.
+It can also be done passing in a [`RuleConfig`](@ref config).
+
+
+!!! warning "If the general rule uses a config, the opt-out must also"
+    Following the same principles as for [rules with config](@ref config), a rule with a `RuleConfig` argument will take precedence over one without, including if that one is a opt-out rule.
+    But if the general rule does not use a config, then the opt-out rule *can* use a config.
+    This allows, for example, you to use opt-out to avoid a particular AD system using a opt-out rule that takes that particular AD's config.
+    
+
+## How to support this (for AD implementers)
+
+We provide two ways to know that a rule has been opted out of.
+
+### `rrule` / `frule` returns `nothing`
+
+`@opt_out` defines a `frule` or `rrule` matching the signature that returns `nothing`.
+
+If you are in a position to generate code, in response to values returned by function calls then you can do something like:
+```@julia
+res = rrule(f, xs)
+if res === nothing
+    y, pullback = perform_ad_via_decomposition(r, xs)  # do AD without hitting the rrule
+else
+    y, pullback = res
+end
+```
+The Julia compiler will specialize based on inferring the return type of `rrule`, and so can remove that branch.
+
+### `no_rrule` / `no_frule` has a method
+
+`@opt_out` also defines a method for  [`ChainRulesCore.no_frule`](@ref) or [`ChainRulesCore.no_rrule`](@ref).
+The body of this method doesn't matter, what matters is that it is a method-table.
+A simple thing you can do with this is not support opting out.
+To do this, filter all methods from the `rrule`/`frule` method table that also occur in the `no_frule`/`no_rrule` table.
+This will thus avoid ever hitting an `rrule`/`frule` that returns `nothing` (and thus prevents your library from erroring).
+This is easily done, though it does mean ignoring the user's stated desire to opt out of the rule.
+
+More complex you can use this to generate code that triggers your AD.
+If for a given signature there is a more specific method in the `no_rrule`/`no_frule` method-table, than the one that would be hit from the `rrule`/`frule` table
+(Excluding the one that exactly matches which will return `nothing`) then you know that the rule should not be used.
+You can, likely by looking at the primal method table, workout which method you would have it if the rule had not been defined,
+and then `invoke` it.
+
+
+
+[^1]: It is also possible, that this is not the case. Benchmark your real uses cases.
diff --git a/src/ChainRulesCore.jl b/src/ChainRulesCore.jl
index 1114bd6fd..09c3ebc4c 100644
--- a/src/ChainRulesCore.jl
+++ b/src/ChainRulesCore.jl
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 module ChainRulesCore
 using Base.Broadcast: broadcasted, Broadcasted, broadcastable, materialize, materialize!
+using Base.Meta
 using LinearAlgebra
 using SparseArrays: SparseVector, SparseMatrixCSC
 using Compat: hasfield
@@ -9,7 +10,7 @@ export frule, rrule  # core function
 export RuleConfig, HasReverseMode, NoReverseMode, HasForwardsMode, NoForwardsMode
 export frule_via_ad, rrule_via_ad
 # definition helper macros
-export @non_differentiable, @scalar_rule, @thunk, @not_implemented
+export @non_differentiable, @opt_out, @scalar_rule, @thunk, @not_implemented
 export ProjectTo, canonicalize, unthunk  # differential operations
 export add!!  # gradient accumulation operations
 # differentials
diff --git a/src/rule_definition_tools.jl b/src/rule_definition_tools.jl
index 830b5bba8..13d7d9406 100644
--- a/src/rule_definition_tools.jl
+++ b/src/rule_definition_tools.jl
@@ -1,10 +1,13 @@
 # These are some macros (and supporting functions) to make it easier to define rules.
-using Base.Meta
 
+# Note: must be declared before it is used, which is later in this file.
 macro strip_linenos(expr)
     return esc(Base.remove_linenums!(expr))
 end
 
+############################################################################################
+### @scalar_rule
+
 """
     @scalar_rule(f(x₁, x₂, ...),
                  @setup(statement₁, statement₂, ...),
@@ -88,7 +91,6 @@ macro scalar_rule(call, maybe_setup, partials...)
     frule_expr = scalar_frule_expr(__source__, f, call, setup_stmts, inputs, partials)
     rrule_expr = scalar_rrule_expr(__source__, f, call, setup_stmts, inputs, partials)
 
-    ############################################################################
     # Final return: building the expression to insert in the place of this macro
     code = quote
         if !($f isa Type) && fieldcount(typeof($f)) > 0
@@ -114,7 +116,6 @@ returns (in order) the correctly escaped:
     - `partials`: which are all `Expr{:tuple,...}`
 """
 function _normalize_scalarrules_macro_input(call, maybe_setup, partials)
-    ############################################################################
     # Setup: normalizing input form etc
 
     if Meta.isexpr(maybe_setup, :macrocall) && maybe_setup.args[1] == Symbol("@setup")
@@ -275,6 +276,9 @@ propagator_name(f::Expr, propname::Symbol) = propagator_name(f.args[end], propna
 propagator_name(fname::Symbol, propname::Symbol) = Symbol(fname, :_, propname)
 propagator_name(fname::QuoteNode, propname::Symbol) = propagator_name(fname.value, propname)
 
+############################################################################################
+### @non_differentiable
+
 """
     @non_differentiable(signature_expression)
 
@@ -394,7 +398,74 @@ function _nondiff_rrule_expr(__source__, primal_sig_parts, primal_invoke)
 end
 
 
-###########
+############################################################################################
+# @opt_out
+
+"""
+    @opt_out frule([config], _, f, args...)
+    @opt_out rrule([config], f, args...)
+
+This allows you to opt-out of an `frule` or an `rrule` by providing a more specific method,
+that says to use the AD system to differentiate it.
+
+For example, consider some function `foo(x::AbtractArray)`.
+In general, you know an efficient and generic way to implement its `rrule`.
+You do so, (likely making use of [`ProjectTo`](@ref)).
+But it actually turns out that for some `FancyArray` type it is better to let the AD do its
+thing.
+
+Then you would write something like:
+```julia
+function rrule(::typeof(foo), x::AbstractArray)
+    foo_pullback(ȳ) = ...
+    return foo(x), foo_pullback
+end
+
+@opt_out rrule(::typeof(foo), ::FancyArray)
+```
+
+This will generate an [`rrule`](@ref) that returns `nothing`,
+and will also add a similar entry to [`ChainRulesCore.no_rrule`](@ref).
+
+Similar applies for [`frule`](@ref) and [`ChainRulesCore.no_frule`](@ref)
+
+For more information see the [documentation on opting out of rules](@ref opt_out).
+"""
+macro opt_out(expr)
+    no_rule_target = _no_rule_target_rewrite!(deepcopy(expr))
+
+    return @strip_linenos quote
+        $(esc(no_rule_target)) = nothing
+        $(esc(expr)) = nothing
+    end
+end
+
+"Rewrite method sig Expr for `rrule` to be for `no_rrule`, and `frule` to be `no_frule`."
+function _no_rule_target_rewrite!(expr::Expr)
+    length(expr.args)===0 && error("Malformed method expression. $expr")
+    if expr.head === :call || expr.head === :where
+        expr.args[1] = _no_rule_target_rewrite!(expr.args[1])
+    elseif expr.head == :(.) && expr.args[1] == :ChainRulesCore
+        expr = _no_rule_target_rewrite!(expr.args[end])
+    else
+        error("Malformed method expression. $(expr)")
+    end
+    return expr
+end
+_no_rule_target_rewrite!(qt::QuoteNode) = _no_rule_target_rewrite!(qt.value)
+function _no_rule_target_rewrite!(call_target::Symbol)
+    return if call_target == :rrule
+        :(ChainRulesCore.no_rrule)
+    elseif call_target == :frule
+        :(ChainRulesCore.no_frule)
+    else
+        error("Unexpected opt-out target. Exprected frule or rrule, got: $call_target")
+    end
+end
+
+
+
+############################################################################################
 # Helpers
 
 """
diff --git a/src/rules.jl b/src/rules.jl
index 0abc81205..1d9113c24 100644
--- a/src/rules.jl
+++ b/src/rules.jl
@@ -139,3 +139,60 @@ const rrule_kwfunc = Core.kwftype(typeof(rrule)).instance
 function (::typeof(rrule_kwfunc))(kws::Any, ::typeof(rrule), ::RuleConfig, args...)
     return rrule_kwfunc(kws, rrule, args...)
 end
+
+##############################################################
+### Opt out functionality
+
+const NO_RRULE_DOC = """
+    no_rrule
+
+This is an piece of infastructure supporting opting out of [`rrule`](@ref).
+It follows the signature for `rrule` exactly.
+A collection of type-tuples is stored in its method-table.
+If something has this defined, it means that it must having a must also have a `rrule`, 
+defined that returns `nothing`.
+
+!!! warning "do not overload no_rrule directly
+    It is fine and intended to query the method table of `no_rrule`.
+    It is not safe to add to that directly, as corresponding changes also need to be made to
+    `rrule`.
+    The [`@opt_out`](@ref) macro does both these things, and so should almost always be used
+    rather than defining a method of `no_rrule` directly.
+
+### Mechanics
+note: when the text below says methods `==` it actually means:
+`parameters(m.sig)[2:end]` (i.e. the signature type tuple) rather than the method object `m` itself.
+
+To decide if should opt-out using this mechanism.
+ - find the most specific method of `rrule` and `no_rule` e.g with `Base.which`
+  - if the method of `no_rrule` `==` the method of `rrule`, then should opt-out
+
+To just ignore the fact that rules can be opted-out from, and that some rules thus return
+`nothing`, then filter the list of methods of `rrule` to remove those that are `==` to ones
+that occur in the method table of `no_rrule`.
+
+Note also when doing this you must still also handle falling back from rule with config, to
+rule without config.
+
+On the other-hand if your AD can work with `rrule`s that return `nothing`, then it is
+simpler to just use that mechanism for opting out; and you don't need to worry about this
+at all.
+
+For more information see the [documentation on opting out of rules](@ref opt_out)
+"""
+
+"""
+$NO_RRULE_DOC
+
+See also [`ChainRulesCore.no_frule`](@ref).
+"""
+function no_rrule end
+no_rrule(::Any, ::Vararg{Any}) = nothing
+
+"""
+$(replace(NO_RRULE_DOC, "rrule"=>"frule"))
+
+See also [`ChainRulesCore.no_rrule`](@ref).
+"""
+function no_frule end
+no_frule(ȧrgs, f, ::Vararg{Any}) = nothing
diff --git a/test/rules.jl b/test/rules.jl
index f5247797f..d43ca42d2 100644
--- a/test/rules.jl
+++ b/test/rules.jl
@@ -148,4 +148,32 @@ _second(t) = Base.tuple_type_head(Base.tuple_type_tail(t))
         @test_skip ∂xr isa Float64  # to be made true with projection
         @test_skip ∂xr ≈ real(∂x)
     end
+
+
+    @testset "@opt_out" begin
+        first_oa(x, y) = x
+        @scalar_rule(first_oa(x, y), (1, 0))
+        @opt_out ChainRulesCore.rrule(::typeof(first_oa), x::T, y::T) where T<:Float32
+        @opt_out(
+            ChainRulesCore.frule(::Any, ::typeof(first_oa), x::T, y::T) where T<:Float32
+        )
+
+        @testset "rrule" begin
+            @test rrule(first_oa, 3.0, 4.0)[2](1) == (NoTangent(), 1, 0)
+            @test rrule(first_oa, 3f0, 4f0) === nothing
+
+            @test !isempty(Iterators.filter(methods(ChainRulesCore.no_rrule)) do m
+                m.sig <:Tuple{Any, typeof(first_oa), T, T} where T<:Float32
+            end)
+        end
+
+        @testset "frule" begin
+            @test frule((NoTangent(), 1,0), first_oa, 3.0, 4.0) == (3.0, 1)
+            @test frule((NoTangent(), 1,0), first_oa, 3f0, 4f0) === nothing
+
+            @test !isempty(Iterators.filter(methods(ChainRulesCore.no_frule)) do m
+                m.sig <:Tuple{Any, Any, typeof(first_oa), T, T} where T<:Float32
+            end)
+        end
+    end
 end