🗓️ Idiom: By the Book
💬 Meaning
- Following the rules exactly, without taking shortcuts
- Doing something in a correct and official way
🧠 Example Sentences
- The auditor does everything by the book, so be sure your reports are correct.
- We followed the procedure by the book to avoid any legal issues.
- Some managers are flexible, but she prefers to do things by the book.
🏛️ Origin
The idiom “by the book” refers to following a written set of rules or laws, often a manual, guide, or legal book. It dates back to at least the 1500s and originally meant to follow the Bible. Today, it’s used more generally to mean following any official rules or procedures exactly.
📝 Practice Exercises
Fill in the blank:
He runs the company __________, with no exceptions to the rules.
Answer
by the book
Multiple choice:
What does “by the book” mean?
A) By reading a novel
B) Following instructions carefully
C) Making your own rules
D) Working without a plan
Answer
B) Following instructions carefully
Rewrite the sentence:
She always follows the company rules very strictly.
Answer
She always does things by the book.
ℹ️ Other Useful Pages
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👉 Ethics Idioms for Business
👉 Business English Idioms List
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Rob is a CELTA qualified English teacher with 15 years of international experience. He has a BSc and PGDip from Loughborough and St Andrews universities in the UK. He has taught in Thailand and Saudi Arabia and now works with professionals worldwide.
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