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Showing results for by the book. Search instead for by+the+book.
Synonyms

by the book

Cultural  

  1. According to established rules: “The inspector will be visiting the factory today, so let's make sure we do everything by the book.”

by the book Idioms  

  1. Strictly according to the rules, as in Our trip leader is going by the book, allowing us to wander off only for short periods. Shakespeare already used the term figuratively in Romeo and Juliet (1:5): “You kiss by the book.” Also see by the numbers.

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.

The company, which underwent several acquisitions, including by the book retailer Barnes & Noble, was later renamed GameStop.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 16, 2026

Tonga coach Kristian Woolf defended the team doctors, saying everything was "done by the book".

From Barron's • Nov. 3, 2025

It was also more cash than he’d ever considered possible in his former life of doing things by the book.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 25, 2025

“I still stand by the book and learned so much about myself during the process of it,” Price said.

From Salon • Sep. 2, 2025

Hooker was amused by the book, which annoyed Charles to no end.

From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.