bring to book

Idioms

Call to account, investigate. For example, He was acquitted, but one day soon he'll be brought to book, or As for your records, the IRS is sure to bring you to book concerning your tax deductions. This term uses book in the sense of “a written record,” such as an account book or ledger. [c. 1800]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"I'm calling on the football authorities to investigate both matches and bring to book anyone found wanting. And if nobody is found guilty of any crime then so be it."

From BBC • Jul. 5, 2022

A baronet of course would not like to be brought to book, as she could bring to book such a one as John Crumb.

From The Way We Live Now by Trollope, Anthony

Judging by their meaning glances at us, they considered us their mortal and cruel enemies whom it would be an act of sublime virtue to bring to book.

From The Ivory Trail by Mundy, Talbot

Remembering that I had been told on the previous day that the cook was short of fresh meat, I resolved to see how many I could bring to book.

From The Beautiful White Devil by Boothby, Guy Newell

More than once I had the good fortune to be able to bring to book men who had carried on their trade for years, and who had been entirely unsuspected.

From My Strangest Case by Boothby, Guy

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023