a closed book
a topic or person about which/whom very little is known
an open book
a topic or person that/who is easy to understand or about which/whom a lot is known
book smart
possessing knowledge acquired from reading or study but lacking common sense
bookworm
a keen reader
by the book
in accordance with the rules
‘You can’t judge a book by its cover!’
the outward appearance of something or someone is not a reliable indication of its/their true nature
in someone’s good/bad books
in favour/disfavour with someone
‘Read my lips!’
listen carefully
the oldest trick in the book
a trick so unimaginative and commonplace that it shouldn’t deceive anyone
to close the books
to put something aside and stop spending time and effort on it
to cook the books
to falsify facts or figures
to have your nose in a book
to be reading intensely
to read between the lines
to search for an implied meaning
to read someone like a book
to easily understand someone’s thoughts/motives without being told them
to throw a book at
to punish severely
