by the book
(redirected from go by the book)by the book
In accordance with rules or regulations. If you're looking for someone to approve an exception, don't go to Ted—he does everything by the book.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
*by the book
and *by the numbersfollowing the rules exactly. (Alludes to a (numbered) book of rules. *Typically: go ~; do something ~; play ~; run something~.) The judge of the contest ran things strictly by the rules and disqualified us on a small technicality. Everyone insisted that we go by the numbers and not accept the proposal.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
by the book
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.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
by the book
strictly according to the rules.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
by the ˈbook
strictly following the rules or the official way of doing something: He insists on doing everything by the book.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
by the book
Very correctly, in strict accordance with the rules. Book in this expression is a set of established rules or, originally, of moral or religious precepts. Edgar Allan Poe was writing of the card game whist when he said, “To have a retentive memory, and to proceed ‘by the book,’ are points commonly regarded as the sum total of good playing” (“The Murders in the Rue Morgue,” 1841). A somewhat newer synonym is to play by the rules.
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer