by the book
See also: by-the-book
English
Alternative forms
- by-the-book (attributive)
Pronunciation
Audio (AU) (file)
Prepositional phrase
- (idiomatic) In a manner which adheres strictly to rules, legal requirements, or official procedures.
- 2006 August 27, Simon Robinson, “It's Not Just Cricket”, in Time:
- As far as he is concerned, he umpired by the book.
- (idiomatic, by extension) In a manner which appears too studied, ritualized, and therefore artificial.
- c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene v]:
- Romeo: Sin from thy lips? O trespass sweetly urged!
Give me my sin again.
They kiss again.
Juliet: You kiss by th' book.
Translations
in a manner which adheres strictly to rules
|
See also
Further reading
- “by the book”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.