chapter and verse

American  

noun

1. any specific chapter and verse of the Bible, as used when citing the text.

2. full, cited authority, as for any quotation, opinion, action, etc..

   Give me chapter and verse for the information you've provided so far.

3. Informal.

   1. detailed information.

   2. a set of regulations or rules.

---

chapter and verse Cultural  

1. The means of locating passages in the Bible (see also Bible). Thus Matthew 19:18 means chapter 19, verse 18, of the Book of Matthew.

---

chapter and verse Idioms  

1. The precise authority backing up a statement or view; established rules for or detailed information about something. For example, You can't withdraw a card after you've played it; I'll cite you the rules, chapter and verse. The term alludes to the chapter and verse of a quotation from the Bible, long regarded as an ultimate authority. [Early 1600s]

---

Discover More

In general use, giving “chapter and verse” means giving precise evidence for a proposition.

Etymology

Origin of chapter and verse

First recorded in 1620–30

Example Sentences

I responded with chapter and verse, pointing to the repeated use of the word “retirement” by Perkins and Witte.

From Los Angeles Times

I can cite chapter and verse on this: Eager recruits to the Nazi Party in the 1930s were lonely young German men, and it’s not an accident that the people who are attracted today to white nationalist groups are lonely young white men.

From Salon

The plaintiffs offer chapter and verse of episodes in which Live Nation allegedly secured contracts for Ticketmaster by hinting to venues, if not stating outright, that switching to a rival would mean the loss of Live Nation dates.

From Los Angeles Times

If Biden really is still searching for an answer to the press problem, and gets a second term, I encourage him to sit down with me and I can give it to him chapter and verse.

From Salon

A gray-haired woman in a T-shirt stood stoically beside a large banner bearing a Bible quote with chapter and verse notation.

From Los Angeles Times