Learn 10 English Idioms with ‘BOOK’

TL;DR

This lesson teaches common metaphors and idioms using the word "book" in English conversation and writing.

Transcript

Hello. I'm Gill at engVid, and today we have a lesson on some metaphors or idioms using the word "book". So, there are quite a few of these. You may find them useful ones to use in your English conversation or in writing, and so on. So, I'll just go through the list and explain each one. Okay? So, first of all, we have a closed book. So, in a liter... Read More

Key Insights

• 📕 The idiom "closed book" describes someone who keeps their personal life private.
• 📖 "Open book" refers to someone who is transparent and shares openly.
• 🫠 "I can read you like a book" suggests a deep understanding of someone's thoughts and actions.
• 🥶 The phrase "oldest trick in the book" describes a long-standing deceptive tactic.
• 👋 Being in someone's good or bad books indicates their current opinion of you.
• 📔 Doing something by the book implies following established rules and guidelines.
• 🍀 "Taking a leaf out of someone's book" means learning from their successful approach.
• 📔 Judging a book by its cover implies that appearances can be deceiving.

Questions & Answers

Q: What does it mean if someone's life is a closed book?

If someone's life is a closed book, it means they don't reveal much about themselves or their personal life.

Q: How do you use the phrase "I can read you like a book"?

"I can read you like a book" is used to express that you know someone very well, including their thoughts, motivations, and actions.

Q: What does it mean if something is the oldest trick in the book?

If something is the oldest trick in the book, it refers to a deceptive strategy or action that has been used for a long time.

Q: What does it mean if someone is in your bad books?

If someone is in your bad books, it means they have done something to upset or annoy you, and you are not friendly towards them because of it.

Q: What does it mean to do something by the book?

To do something by the book means to follow the established rules or guidelines for a particular process or situation.

Q: How is the phrase "take a leaf out of someone's book" used?

"Take a leaf out of someone's book" means to learn from someone's way of doing something and apply it in your own life or actions.

Q: What does the expression "you can't judge a book by its cover" mean?

"You can't judge a book by its cover" means that you should not form opinions or judgments based solely on outward appearances.

Q: What does it mean if someone is cooking the books?

If someone is cooking the books, it means they are engaging in dishonest practices related to financial transactions, such as falsifying figures or misusing company funds.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• A closed book refers to someone who doesn't share much about themselves.

• An open book means someone who is very open about their life and thoughts.

• "I can read you like a book" is used when you know someone well and can predict their actions.