by the book
idiom
: by following the official rules very strictly
My boss insists on doing everything by the book.
Examples of by the book in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The name was inspired by the book Poor Little B*tch Girl by Jackie Collins, the late British novelist and one of my first female idols.
—
Zoya Hasan, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
The company, which underwent several acquisitions, including by the book retailer Barnes & Noble, was later renamed GameStop.
—Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
Sources said Netflix execs were blown away by the book and were able to secure it thanks to their creative partnership with Berg and his Film 44, which recently reupped its longtime first-look deal with Netflix.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
These cancellations, at the last stage of a bureaucratic journey that can last for years, have caused chaos and confusion for thousands of immigrants who did everything by the book.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 10 Dec. 2025
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Zoya Hasan, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
The company, which underwent several acquisitions, including by the book retailer Barnes & Noble, was later renamed GameStop.
—Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
Sources said Netflix execs were blown away by the book and were able to secure it thanks to their creative partnership with Berg and his Film 44, which recently reupped its longtime first-look deal with Netflix.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
These cancellations, at the last stage of a bureaucratic journey that can last for years, have caused chaos and confusion for thousands of immigrants who did everything by the book.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for by the book
Cite this Entry
“By the book.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/by%20the%20book. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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