50 Idioms for Reading With Meanings & Sentences
Idioms for Reading
1. Bookworm
Meaning: Someone who loves reading and spends a lot of time with books.
In a Sentence: Sarah is such a bookworm; she reads at least three books a week!
Other Ways to Say: Avid reader, Bibliophile
2. Read Between the Lines
Meaning: To understand the hidden or deeper meaning of something.
In a Sentence: You need to read between the lines to understand what he’s truly saying.
Other Ways to Say: Interpret subtly, Understand the implication
3. Hit the Books
Meaning: To begin studying seriously.
In a Sentence: Exams are coming, so I need to hit the books.
Other Ways to Say: Study hard, Crack open a book
4. Crack a Book
Meaning: To open a book and start reading or studying.
In a Sentence: He didn’t crack a book all weekend.
Other Ways to Say: Start reading, Begin studying
5. In Someone’s Good Books
Meaning: To be in someone’s favor.
In a Sentence: After helping with the project, I’m finally in the manager’s good books.
Other Ways to Say: Well-regarded, On good terms
6. Take a Leaf Out of Someone’s Book
Meaning: To imitate or follow someone’s example.
In a Sentence: You should take a leaf out of her book and read more often.
Other Ways to Say: Follow an example, Emulate
7. An Open Book
Meaning: Someone who is very transparent and easy to understand.
In a Sentence: He’s like an open book—you always know what he’s thinking.
Other Ways to Say: Transparent, Honest
8. Judge a Book by Its Cover
Meaning: To form an opinion based on appearance.
In a Sentence: Never judge a book by its cover—she’s much smarter than she looks.
Other Ways to Say: Don’t assume from appearances, Look deeper
9. By the Book
Meaning: Following rules strictly.
In a Sentence: She runs her classroom by the book.
Other Ways to Say: Follow rules, Play it safe
10. Throw the Book At
Meaning: To punish someone severely.
In a Sentence: The court threw the book at him for cheating.
Other Ways to Say: Punish harshly, Penalize
11. In My Book
Meaning: In my opinion.
In a Sentence: In my book, reading is the best habit anyone can develop.
Other Ways to Say: As I see it, To me
12. The Oldest Trick in the Book
Meaning: A commonly used and obvious deception.
In a Sentence: Don’t fall for that—it’s the oldest trick in the book.
Other Ways to Say: Obvious lie, Common ploy
13. The Book is Closed
Meaning: A matter is considered finished.
In a Sentence: The book is closed on that case—it’s time to move on.
Other Ways to Say: Case closed, Settled
14. Off the Books
Meaning: Not officially recorded.
In a Sentence: He was paid off the books to avoid taxes.
Other Ways to Say: Unofficial, Under the table
15. Read Someone Like a Book
Meaning: To easily understand someone’s thoughts or feelings.
In a Sentence: I can read you like a book—you’re obviously upset.
Other Ways to Say: Understand clearly, See through
16. Be in Someone’s Black Book
Meaning: To be in someone’s bad favor.
In a Sentence: After missing the meeting, I’m in my boss’s black book.
Other Ways to Say: On someone’s bad side, Out of favor
17. A Closed Book
Meaning: Someone or something that is difficult to understand.
In a Sentence: He’s a closed book—I never know what he’s thinking.
Other Ways to Say: Mysterious, Hard to read
18. Bring to Book
Meaning: To punish or reprimand someone.
In a Sentence: The corrupt officials were brought to book.
Other Ways to Say: Hold accountable, Call to answer
19. Read Aloud
Meaning: To read so others can hear.
In a Sentence: The teacher read aloud to the class every morning.
Other Ways to Say: Read out loud, Speak while reading
20. Read Into Something
Meaning: To give extra meaning to something that may not be there.
In a Sentence: Don’t read too much into his silence.
Other Ways to Say: Overanalyze, Interpret deeply
21. Book Smart
Meaning: Good at academics but not necessarily streetwise.
In a Sentence: He’s book smart but lacks common sense.
Other Ways to Say: Academically intelligent, Theoretical knowledge
22. A Real Page-Turner
Meaning: A very interesting or exciting book.
In a Sentence: That novel was a real page-turner—I read it in one night!
Other Ways to Say: Gripping book, Unputdownable
23. Hit the Library
Meaning: To go study or do research.
In a Sentence: I have an exam tomorrow, so I’m hitting the library.
Other Ways to Say: Go study, Visit the library
24. Be Lost in a Book
Meaning: To be completely absorbed while reading.
In a Sentence: She was lost in a book for hours.
Other Ways to Say: Deeply engrossed, Immersed in reading
25. Dog-Eared Pages
Meaning: Worn-out pages of a book, often from frequent reading.
In a Sentence: His favorite novel has dog-eared pages.
Other Ways to Say: Well-read, Worn pages
26. Devour a Book
Meaning: To read something quickly and eagerly.
In a Sentence: She devoured the entire novel in one sitting.
Other Ways to Say: Read eagerly, Consume quickly
27. Read the Fine Print
Meaning: To look at the small, detailed parts of a document.
In a Sentence: Always read the fine print before signing a contract.
Other Ways to Say: Check the details, Read thoroughly
28. Escape into a Book
Meaning: To use reading as a way to avoid reality.
In a Sentence: When life gets hard, I escape into a book.
Other Ways to Say: Find refuge in reading, Retreat into stories
29. Make for Good Reading
Meaning: To be enjoyable or interesting to read.
In a Sentence: Her blog posts always make for good reading.
Other Ways to Say: Entertaining content, Pleasant to read
30. Curl Up with a Book
Meaning: To read in a cozy and relaxed way.
In a Sentence: I love curling up with a book on rainy days.
Other Ways to Say: Relax with a book, Get comfy and read
31. Be Well-Read
Meaning: To be knowledgeable through reading.
In a Sentence: He’s well-read in philosophy and history.
Other Ways to Say: Literate, Educated through books
32. Flip Through a Book
Meaning: To look at pages quickly without reading deeply.
In a Sentence: I flipped through the book before buying it.
Other Ways to Say: Skim, Browse
33. A Book That Changed My Life
Meaning: A book that had a significant impact.
In a Sentence: That autobiography was the book that changed my life.
Other Ways to Say: Life-changing book, Transformational read
34. Get Hooked on a Book
Meaning: To become obsessed or deeply interested in reading a book.
In a Sentence: I got hooked on the series after the first chapter.
Other Ways to Say: Addicted to reading, Drawn in
35. Have Your Nose in a Book
Meaning: To be constantly reading.
In a Sentence: He always has his nose in a book, even at dinner.
Other Ways to Say: Always reading, Engrossed
36. Read Cover to Cover
Meaning: To read the entire book.
In a Sentence: She read the novel cover to cover in one day.
Other Ways to Say: Read completely, Finish a book
37. A Heavy Read
Meaning: A book that is deep or difficult to understand.
In a Sentence: That historical biography was a heavy read.
Other Ways to Say: Dense book, Complex material
38. Read at a Glance
Meaning: To quickly get the gist of something.
In a Sentence: This chart can be read at a glance.
Other Ways to Say: Skim, Quick overview
39. Take Notes While Reading
Meaning: To write down important points from a book.
In a Sentence: I always take notes while reading nonfiction.
Other Ways to Say: Annotate, Highlight key ideas
40. Read with a Critical Eye
Meaning: To analyze what you are reading carefully.
In a Sentence: Scholars read literature with a critical eye.
Other Ways to Say: Analyze deeply, Examine content
41. Read for Pleasure
Meaning: To read because you enjoy it, not for work or school.
In a Sentence: I always read for pleasure before bed.
Other Ways to Say: Read for fun, Leisure reading
42. A Quick Read
Meaning: A short or easy book to finish.
In a Sentence: That mystery novel was a quick read.
Other Ways to Say: Light reading, Fast-paced book
43. A Classic Read
Meaning: A well-known and respected book.
In a Sentence: “Pride and Prejudice” is a classic read.
Other Ways to Say: Timeless novel, Literary masterpiece
44. Put the Book Down
Meaning: To stop reading (usually reluctantly).
In a Sentence: I couldn’t put the book down—it was that good.
Other Ways to Say: So engaging, Unstoppable
45. A Good Read
Meaning: A book that is enjoyable or worth reading.
In a Sentence: That biography was a good read.
Other Ways to Say: Great book, Enjoyable read
46. A Reading Habit
Meaning: The regular act of reading.
In a Sentence: She developed a strong reading habit in childhood.
Other Ways to Say: Reading routine, Daily reading
47. Skim a Book
Meaning: To read something quickly and superficially.
In a Sentence: I skimmed the book to get the main idea.
Other Ways to Say: Glance through, Speed-read
48. Be Glued to a Book
Meaning: Unable to stop reading.
In a Sentence: I was glued to the book until the last page.
Other Ways to Say: Deeply engaged, Captivated
49. Read Yourself to Sleep
Meaning: To fall asleep while reading.
In a Sentence: I read myself to sleep every night.
Other Ways to Say: Nightly reading, Drift off while reading
50. Turn the Page
Meaning: To move forward from something or to continue reading.
In a Sentence: It’s time to turn the page and start a new chapter in life.
Other Ways to Say: Move on, Begin anew
