by the book

según las normas, al pie de la letra

Cumpliendo exactamente todas las normas oficiales o las instrucciones.

En inglés sencillo: 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?

Sinónimos: according to the rules

Expresiones frecuentes: work by the book, go by the book

de forma mecánica, de manera formularia

De una manera tan ajustada a un método fijo que resulta poco natural o sin emoción.

En inglés sencillo: 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.

Sinónimos: mechanically, formulaically

Expresiones frecuentes: act by the book, perform by the book