50 Idioms for Books With Meanings & Sentences
Idioms for Books
1. An open book
Meaning: Someone or something that is easy to understand.
In a Sentence: She’s like an open book—always honest and never hides her feelings.
Other Ways to Say: Transparent, Easy to read.
2. Bookworm
Meaning: A person who loves to read books and spends a lot of time doing so.
In a Sentence: Jenny is such a bookworm; she finishes a new book every day.
Other Ways to Say: Bibliophile, Reading enthusiast.
3. Crack a book
Meaning: To open and start reading or studying a book.
In a Sentence: He didn’t even crack a book before the final exam.
Other Ways to Say: Open a book, Start studying.
4. By the book
Meaning: To strictly follow rules or procedures.
In a Sentence: The teacher always does things by the book, never bending the rules for anyone.
Other Ways to Say: According to regulations, In accordance with the rules.
5. In someone’s good books
Meaning: To be in someone’s favor or be liked by them.
In a Sentence: After helping with the project, I’m finally in the boss’s good books.
Other Ways to Say: On someone’s good side, In favor.
6. In someone’s bad books
Meaning: To be disliked or disapproved by someone.
In a Sentence: He’s in her bad books after forgetting her birthday.
Other Ways to Say: Out of favor, Not in good standing.
7. A closed book
Meaning: Something or someone difficult to understand or know about.
In a Sentence: His past is a closed book to everyone at the office.
Other Ways to Say: Mystery, Unknown.
8. Cook the books
Meaning: To manipulate financial records dishonestly.
In a Sentence: The accountant was fired for trying to cook the books.
Other Ways to Say: Falsify records, Commit fraud.
9. 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 start managing your time better.
Other Ways to Say: Follow example, Copy behavior.
10. Hit the books
Meaning: To begin studying hard.
In a Sentence: Exams are around the corner, so it’s time to hit the books.
Other Ways to Say: Study, Prepare intensely.
11. Don’t judge a book by its cover
Meaning: Don’t form an opinion based on appearance.
In a Sentence: He may look unfriendly, but don’t judge a book by its cover.
Other Ways to Say: Looks can be deceiving, Appearances are misleading.
12. Book smart
Meaning: Knowledgeable through reading and study rather than experience.
In a Sentence: He’s book smart but has no idea how to fix a leaky faucet.
Other Ways to Say: Academically intelligent, Scholarly.
13. In the book
Meaning: Included in the rules or procedures.
In a Sentence: Every rule in the book was applied to that case.
Other Ways to Say: Listed officially, In the guidelines.
14. Read someone like a book
Meaning: To understand someone’s thoughts or feelings easily.
In a Sentence: She can read me like a book, no matter how hard I try to hide.
Other Ways to Say: Understand completely, See through.
15. Throw the book at someone
Meaning: To punish someone severely.
In a Sentence: The judge threw the book at him for repeated offenses.
Other Ways to Say: Penalize harshly, Come down hard.
16. Booked solid
Meaning: Fully scheduled with no availability.
In a Sentence: The doctor is booked solid for the next two weeks.
Other Ways to Say: Fully booked, No openings.
17. Balance the books
Meaning: To make sure income equals expenses.
In a Sentence: It’s my job to balance the books each month at the company.
Other Ways to Say: Settle accounts, Reconcile finances.
18. A bookend
Meaning: Something that comes at the beginning or end to complete a structure.
In a Sentence: The reunion was a perfect bookend to a wonderful summer.
Other Ways to Say: Closure, Finishing touch.
19. Off the books
Meaning: Not officially recorded or legal.
In a Sentence: They paid him off the books to avoid taxes.
Other Ways to Say: Under the table, Unofficially.
20. On the books
Meaning: Officially recorded.
In a Sentence: He’s on the books as a part-time employee.
Other Ways to Say: Officially listed, Documented.
21. Read between the lines
Meaning: To understand hidden or implied meaning.
In a Sentence: You have to read between the lines to get the true meaning of the letter.
Other Ways to Say: Interpret subtly, Understand hints.
22. Every trick in the book
Meaning: Every possible method or strategy.
In a Sentence: She used every trick in the book to convince them.
Other Ways to Say: All techniques, All tactics.
23. The oldest trick in the book
Meaning: A very well-known or overused trick.
In a Sentence: Pretending to be sick is the oldest trick in the book.
Other Ways to Say: Common tactic, Cliché move.
24. In my book
Meaning: In one’s opinion.
In a Sentence: In my book, honesty is more important than success.
Other Ways to Say: From my perspective, As I see it.
25. An open-and-shut book
Meaning: A straightforward case or matter.
In a Sentence: The theft was an open-and-shut book—caught on camera.
Other Ways to Say: Obvious case, Clear situation.
26. 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 start being more punctual.
Other Ways to Say: Follow their lead, Emulate their behavior.
27. The oldest trick in the book
Meaning: A strategy or method that is very well known and commonly used.
In a Sentence: Pretending to be sick to skip school is the oldest trick in the book.
Other Ways to Say: Common ploy, Timeworn tactic.
28. Read between the lines
Meaning: Understand something that isn’t said directly.
In a Sentence: If you read between the lines, you’ll see she’s not happy with her job.
Other Ways to Say: Infer, Look deeper.
29. Crack a book
Meaning: To begin studying or reading.
In a Sentence: Finals are next week, so it’s time to crack a book.
Other Ways to Say: Start studying, Open a textbook.
30. Book smart
Meaning: Knowledgeable from studying rather than practical experience.
In a Sentence: He’s book smart but struggles with real-life problems.
Other Ways to Say: Academically intelligent, Theoretical thinker.
31. One for the books
Meaning: Something memorable or extraordinary.
In a Sentence: That game-winning goal was one for the books.
Other Ways to Say: Historic moment, Unforgettable event.
32. Hit the books
Meaning: To begin studying hard.
In a Sentence: I have to hit the books if I want to pass my math exam.
Other Ways to Say: Start studying, Get down to work.
33. Every trick in the book
Meaning: Using all available methods or techniques.
In a Sentence: He tried every trick in the book to win her heart.
Other Ways to Say: All possible tactics, Full range of strategies.
34. Don’t judge a book by its cover
Meaning: Don’t form opinions based on appearances.
In a Sentence: He looks tough, but don’t judge a book by its cover—he’s very kind.
Other Ways to Say: Appearances can be deceiving, Look deeper.
35. Booked solid
Meaning: Having no available time slots or appointments.
In a Sentence: The dentist is booked solid for the next two weeks.
Other Ways to Say: Fully scheduled, No availability.
36. In someone’s good books
Meaning: To be in someone’s favor.
In a Sentence: She’s in the manager’s good books after completing the project early.
Other Ways to Say: Well-regarded, Favored.
37. In someone’s bad books
Meaning: To be in someone’s disfavor.
In a Sentence: He’s in her bad books for forgetting their anniversary.
Other Ways to Say: Out of favor, In trouble.
38. A book club
Meaning: A group of people who meet regularly to discuss books.
In a Sentence: I joined a book club to explore different genres of fiction.
Other Ways to Say: Reading circle, Literary group.
39. Throw the book at someone
Meaning: To punish someone severely.
In a Sentence: The judge decided to throw the book at him for repeated offenses.
Other Ways to Say: Punish harshly, Issue full penalty.
40. Balance the books
Meaning: To make financial accounts correct and complete.
In a Sentence: The accountant worked late to balance the books before the deadline.
Other Ways to Say: Reconcile finances, Close accounts.
41. Bring to book
Meaning: To punish or hold someone accountable.
In a Sentence: The corrupt official was finally brought to book.
Other Ways to Say: Hold accountable, Call to justice.
42. In the book
Meaning: Officially recorded or recognized.
In a Sentence: That was the fastest lap in the book.
Other Ways to Say: Official, Documented.
43. A book deal
Meaning: A contract to publish a book.
In a Sentence: The author signed a book deal with a major publishing house.
Other Ways to Say: Publishing contract, Author agreement.
44. Book value
Meaning: The value of an asset according to its balance sheet.
In a Sentence: The car’s book value is much lower than its resale price.
Other Ways to Say: Accounting value, Recorded worth.
45. Open book
Meaning: Someone who is honest and transparent.
In a Sentence: She’s an open book—she always tells you what’s on her mind.
Other Ways to Say: Transparent, Easy to read.
46. Close the book on
Meaning: To end or finish something.
In a Sentence: The police finally closed the book on the long-unsolved case.
Other Ways to Say: Conclude, Finish.
47. Write the book on
Meaning: To be a recognized expert.
In a Sentence: She practically wrote the book on digital marketing.
Other Ways to Say: Be the authority, Set the standard.
48. Turn the page
Meaning: To move on from something.
In a Sentence: After the breakup, it was time for him to turn the page and start fresh.
Other Ways to Say: Move forward, Start anew.
49. Book of life
Meaning: The total experiences and events of a person’s life.
In a Sentence: Everyone has their own book of life filled with joys and sorrows.
Other Ways to Say: Life story, Personal journey.
50. In my book
Meaning: In one’s opinion.
In a Sentence: In my book, honesty is more important than talent.
Other Ways to Say: As I see it, From my perspective.
