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
Bondi, though, insists everything will be done by the book.
—
Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 22 Nov. 2025
Like Nina at the prison, Evelyn would rather do things by the book: cleaning up Kingstown by putting criminals and dirty cops behind bars, rather than letting Mike decide who’s allowed to break the law.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 9 Nov. 2025
An investigation by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife determined Brooks had done everything by the book.
—Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2025
After California rested its case, on the first day of trial, Sherman returned to the stand on the second day, this time as the Justice Department’s only witness, largely to clean up his prior testimony and to try to persuade Judge Breyer that Task Force 51 was doing everything by the book.
—Cristian Farias, New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2025
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Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 22 Nov. 2025
Like Nina at the prison, Evelyn would rather do things by the book: cleaning up Kingstown by putting criminals and dirty cops behind bars, rather than letting Mike decide who’s allowed to break the law.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 9 Nov. 2025
An investigation by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife determined Brooks had done everything by the book.
—Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2025
After California rested its case, on the first day of trial, Sherman returned to the stand on the second day, this time as the Justice Department’s only witness, largely to clean up his prior testimony and to try to persuade Judge Breyer that Task Force 51 was doing everything by the book.
—Cristian Farias, New Yorker, 19 Aug. 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 30 Nov. 2025.
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