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.

See also: book, by

*by the book

and *by the numbers

following 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.

See also: book, by

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.

See also: book, by

by the book

strictly according to the rules.

See also: book, by

by the ˈbook

strictly following the rules or the official way of doing something: He insists on doing everything by the book.

See also: book, by

References in periodicals archive ?

The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz decided to go by the book while dealing with the issue of deleting Musharraf's name from the exit control list (ECL), the Nation reports.

Nawaz govt rules out safe passage for Musharraf

So do it straight, go by the book Remember how it all should look.

This Sporting? Life

For the record, and for those who still like to go by the book, American Heritage III says of factoid, "Unverified or inaccurate information that is presented in the press as factual, often as part of a publicity effort, and that is then accepted as true because of constant repetition .