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by the book

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /baɪ ðə ˈbʊk/

by the book means: Following all the official rules or instructions exactly.

phrase

FOLLOW THE RULESB2

Following all the official rules or instructions exactly.

  • We do everything by the book.
  • The officer handled the complaint by the book.
  • Was the investigation conducted by the book?

Similar words: according to the rules

Common phrases: work by the book, go by the book

OVERLY REHEARSEDC2

Done so carefully according to a fixed method that it feels unnatural or lacks real feeling.

  • His acting was too by the book.
  • She delivered every romantic line by the book, without any warmth.
  • The speech felt by the book rather than personal.

Similar words: mechanically, formulaically

Common phrases: act by the book, perform by the book

Questions about by the book

What does by the book mean?

Following all the official rules or instructions exactly.

What is by the book in other languages?

Türkçe: kurallara uygun · Español: según las normas · Français: dans les règles · Deutsch: vorschriftsmäßig · Italiano: secondo le regole · 日本語: 規則通りに

How do you pronounce by the book?

It is pronounced /baɪ ðə ˈbʊk/.

How do you use by the book in a sentence?

We do everything by the book. The officer handled the complaint by the book.

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by the book in other languages

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