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.

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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.

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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]

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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 • Mar. 19, 2025

They were keyed to chapter and verse, and by the end of the century, page numbers came into use.

From Washington Post • Feb. 18, 2022

We’re about to get chapter and verse of how good this young team really are.

From The Guardian • Jan. 1, 2022

"She gave me chapter and verse about SuperTed and we gave her two SuperTeds for the princes," recalled Mike, who was also assistant producer of the original Fireman Sam.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2021

I could quote you anything from those pages, chapter and verse.

From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah