by the book

secondo le regole, alla lettera

Seguendo esattamente tutte le regole ufficiali o le istruzioni.

In inglese semplice: 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?

Sinonimi: according to the rules

Espressioni comuni: work by the book, go by the book

in modo meccanico, in modo stereotipato

In modo così fedele a uno schema fisso da sembrare poco naturale o privo di sentimento.

In inglese semplice: 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.

Sinonimi: mechanically, formulaically

Espressioni comuni: act by the book, perform by the book