A closed book1. Something
that you accept has completely ended.
- As far as she is concerned, her marriage is a closed book.
2. Something or someone that is very difficult to understand
- I’m afraid accountancy is a closed book to me.
An open book
Read someone like a book
Selling tourists fake artifacts is the oldest trick in the book—please don't fall for that one!
Something or
someone that is easy to know about because nothing is kept secret.
- Her life is an open book.
Read someone like a book
To be able to understand easily what someone is thinking or feeling.
- I know what you’re thinking – I can read you like a book.
The oldest trick in the book
A dishonest method of doing something that you know about because it has been used many times before.
In someone’s good books
Used for saying that someone is pleased with you.
- I’m trying to get back in her good books.
By the book
Correctly, following all the rules or systems for doing something in a strict way.
- He always tried to do everything by the book.
Bring someone to book
To punish someone, or to make them explain their behavior publicly when they have done something wrong.- If policemen have lied, then they must be brought to book.
Take a leaf out of someone’s book
To copy what someone else does because they are successful at doing it.
- You should take a leaf out of Rick’s book and start coming in early every morning.
Don’t judge a book by its cover
Used for saying that you should not form an opinion about someone or something only from their appearance.
- That man may look very small and
- insignificant, but don't judge a book by its cover – he's a very powerful man in his
- circle.
Cook the books
To change accounts and figures dishonestly, usually in order to get money.
- His accountant had been cooking the books for years.