Books and reading have inspired many expressions in English that reflect life, knowledge, and human behavior. These idioms often use imagery related to books, reading, or writing to convey ideas in a vivid and memorable way. Below you will find 49 idioms connected to books and reading, each explained with its meaning, usage, and similar expressions. Test your understanding with a quiz at the end!
Detailed Idioms About Books and Reading
1. Bookworm
Meaning: Someone who loves reading and spends a lot of time doing it.
In a Sentence: Sarah is such a bookworm; she finishes a novel every week.
Other Ways to Say: Avid reader, bibliophile
2. Hit the Books
Meaning: To study hard, especially for an exam.
In a Sentence: I need to hit the books tonight if I want to pass the test.
Other Ways to Say: Study hard, cram
3. Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover
Meaning: Don’t judge someone or something based only on appearance.
In a Sentence: Don’t judge a book by its cover; the old house is full of surprises.
Other Ways to Say: Look beyond appearances, don’t be superficial
4. In Someone’s Good Books
Meaning: To be in favor with someone.
In a Sentence: After helping with the project, I’m in my manager’s good books.
Other Ways to Say: On good terms, favored
5. By the Book
Meaning: To do something strictly according to rules or instructions.
In a Sentence: The pilot flew the plane by the book to ensure safety.
Other Ways to Say: According to the rules, strictly
6. Read Between the Lines
Meaning: To understand the hidden or implied meaning.
In a Sentence: You have to read between the lines to understand what she really means.
Other Ways to Say: Infer, interpret
7. Open Book
Meaning: Someone or something easy to understand or transparent.
In a Sentence: He’s an open book; you can always tell what he’s thinking.
Other Ways to Say: Transparent, clear
8. Throw the Book at Someone
Meaning: To punish someone severely.
In a Sentence: The judge threw the book at the criminal for his repeated offenses.
Other Ways to Say: Penalize harshly, punish severely
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 be more organized.
Other Ways to Say: Follow example, copy
10. Cook the Books
Meaning: To falsify financial records.
In a Sentence: The company was caught cooking the books to hide losses.
Other Ways to Say: Manipulate accounts, falsify records
11. Book Smart
Meaning: Intelligent through studying and reading.
In a Sentence: He’s book smart but lacks practical experience.
Other Ways to Say: Academically knowledgeable, learned
12. Book It
Meaning: To hurry or move quickly.
In a Sentence: We need to book it if we want to catch the last train.
Other Ways to Say: Rush, hurry up
13. Bookworm’s Paradise
Meaning: A place filled with books, ideal for readers.
In a Sentence: The new library is a bookworm’s paradise.
Other Ways to Say: Library, bookstore
14. Book of Life
Meaning: A metaphorical record of a person’s deeds or fate.
In a Sentence: Many cultures believe the book of life records all actions.
Other Ways to Say: Life record, destiny
15. Off the Books
Meaning: Not officially recorded or illegal.
In a Sentence: The workers were paid off the books to avoid taxes.
Other Ways to Say: Unofficial, under the table
16. Book Club
Meaning: A group that meets regularly to discuss books.
In a Sentence: I joined a book club to meet other readers.
Other Ways to Say: Reading group
17. Bookish
Meaning: Fond of reading or academic pursuits.
In a Sentence: She’s quite bookish and prefers quiet evenings with a novel.
Other Ways to Say: Studious, scholarly
18. Bookie
Meaning: A person who takes bets, especially on sports.
In a Sentence: The bookie set the odds for the big game.
Other Ways to Say: Bookmaker
19. Bookend
Meaning: Something that marks the beginning and end of an event or period.
In a Sentence: The opening and closing speeches bookended the conference.
Other Ways to Say: Frame, boundary
20. One for the Books
Meaning: An extraordinary or memorable event.
In a Sentence: That game was one for the books!
Other Ways to Say: Unforgettable, remarkable
21. Close the Book on
Meaning: To finish or stop considering something.
In a Sentence: The company decided to close the book on the failed project.
Other Ways to Say: Conclude, finalize
22. Crack a Book
Meaning: To open a book to study or read.
In a Sentence: I haven’t cracked a book all semester!
Other Ways to Say: Study, read
23. Dog-eared
Meaning: A book with folded or worn corners from frequent use.
In a Sentence: His dog-eared copy of the novel shows how much he loves it.
Other Ways to Say: Well-used, worn
24. Read the Room
Meaning: To sense the mood or feelings of a group.
In a Sentence: Before making a joke, read the room carefully.
Other Ways to Say: Sense atmosphere, gauge feelings
25. Book a Ticket
Meaning: To reserve a ticket for travel or an event.
In a Sentence: I booked a ticket for the concert next month.
Other Ways to Say: Reserve, schedule
26. Book a Room
Meaning: To reserve accommodation.
In a Sentence: We booked a room at the hotel for the weekend.
Other Ways to Say: Reserve, arrange
27. Book a Meeting
Meaning: To schedule a meeting.
In a Sentence: I booked a meeting with the client for Tuesday.
Other Ways to Say: Arrange, set up
28. Book a Session
Meaning: To arrange an appointment or session.
In a Sentence: She booked a session with the personal trainer.
Other Ways to Say: Schedule, reserve
29. Book a Consultation
Meaning: To arrange a professional consultation.
In a Sentence: He booked a consultation with the lawyer.
Other Ways to Say: Schedule, meet
30. Book a Tour
Meaning: To reserve a guided tour.
In a Sentence: We booked a tour of the museum for Saturday.
Other Ways to Say: Reserve, arrange
31. Book a Holiday
Meaning: To reserve a vacation.
In a Sentence: They booked a holiday to the Caribbean.
Other Ways to Say: Reserve, plan
32. Book a Course
Meaning: To enroll in a class or course.
In a Sentence: She booked a course in creative writing.
Other Ways to Say: Register, sign up
33. Under Someone’s Thumb
Meaning: Being under someone’s control.
In a Sentence: He’s under his boss’s thumb at work.
Other Ways to Say: Controlled by someone, at someone’s command
34. Book Smart vs Street Smart
Meaning: Academic knowledge contrasted with practical knowledge.
In a Sentence: He’s book smart but needs to be more street smart.
Other Ways to Say: Learned vs practical
35. Book It To…
Meaning: To hurry to a place.
In a Sentence: Let’s book it to the party before it starts.
Other Ways to Say: Rush, dash
36. Book of Hours
Meaning: A medieval prayer book.
In a Sentence: The museum displayed a beautifully illustrated book of hours.
Other Ways to Say: Prayer book
37. Suit Someone’s Book
Meaning: To be convenient or acceptable to someone (UK).
In a Sentence: I hope this plan suits your book.
Other Ways to Say: Fit, be suitable
38. Bring Someone to Book
Meaning: To reprimand or punish someone.
In a Sentence: The teacher brought the student to book for cheating.
Other Ways to Say: Hold accountable, scold
39. Balance the Books
Meaning: To make financial accounts correct.
In a Sentence: The accountant balanced the books before the audit.
Other Ways to Say: Reconcile accounts
40. Book Lover
Meaning: Someone who loves books.
In a Sentence: As a book lover, she visits the library weekly.
Other Ways to Say: Bibliophile, reader
41. Book It Online
Meaning: To reserve something via the internet.
In a Sentence: I booked my flight online to save time.
Other Ways to Say: Reserve online
42. Book a Cab
Meaning: To order a taxi.
In a Sentence: She booked a cab to the airport.
Other Ways to Say: Reserve taxi
43. Book Smart But Not Street Smart
Meaning: Academically knowledgeable but lacking practical skills.
In a Sentence: He’s book smart but not street smart enough to handle real-world problems.
Other Ways to Say: Learned but inexperienced
44. Book It Out of Here
Meaning: To leave quickly.
In a Sentence: When the fire alarm rang, everyone booked it out of here.
Other Ways to Say: Get out fast, dash
45. Book of Records
Meaning: An official record book.
In a Sentence: She made it into the book of records for the fastest marathon.
Other Ways to Say: Record book
46. Book a Table
Meaning: To reserve a table at a restaurant.
In a Sentence: We booked a table for dinner at 7 p.m.
Other Ways to Say: Reserve table
47. Book a Place
Meaning: To reserve a spot.
In a Sentence: He booked a place in the workshop early.
Other Ways to Say: Reserve a spot
48. Book a Slot
Meaning: To reserve a time slot.
In a Sentence: I booked a slot for the interview next week.
Other Ways to Say: Reserve time
49. Book a Flight
Meaning: To reserve a seat on an airplane.
In a Sentence: She booked a flight to New York for the holidays.
Other Ways to Say: Reserve a seat
Quiz: Test Your Knowledge of Book and Reading Idioms
Choose the correct meaning for each idiom:
- What does “hit the books” mean?
a) To throw books away
b) To study hard
c) To read for fun
d) To write a book - If someone is “in your good books,” it means:
a) They dislike you
b) They owe you money
c) They are pleased with you
d) They are reading your diary - To “read between the lines” means:
a) To read quickly
b) To understand hidden meaning
c) To read a book backwards
d) To skip pages - “Cook the books” refers to:
a) Preparing recipes from a cookbook
b) Falsifying financial records
c) Writing a book
d) Reading a book aloud - “Don’t judge a book by its cover” advises:
a) To judge based on appearance
b) To read the cover first
c) Not to judge by appearances alone
d) To buy only hardcover books - What does “throw the book at someone” mean?
a) Give a book as a gift
b) Punish someone severely
c) Read a book to someone
d) Ignore someone - If something is “a closed book,” it is:
a) Easy to understand
b) Unknown or mysterious
c) A book that is old
d) A book that is open - To “take a leaf out of someone’s book” means:
a) To tear a page from a book
b) To copy or imitate someone
c) To read a book quickly
d) To write a book - “Book smart” contrasts with:
a) Street smart
b) Bookworm
c) Open book
d) Book club - “One for the books” means:
a) An ordinary event
b) A memorable or extraordinary event
c) A book about history
d) A book that is boring
Answers to the Quiz
- b) To study hard
- c) They are pleased with you
- b) To understand hidden meaning
- b) Falsifying financial records
- c) Not to judge by appearances alone
- b) Punish someone severely
- b) Unknown or mysterious
- b) To copy or imitate someone
- a) Street smart
- b) A memorable or extraordinary event
Conclusion
This list offers practical explanations and examples to help you understand and use idioms related to books and reading confidently. Enjoy exploring these expressions and enhancing your English skills!