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
Most were excited by the book, but some took issue with Babitz and Didion being paired together, leading Polson to issue an apology.
—
Jessica Ferri, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2024
The prosecutor countered that those objections are invalid, and that the indictment proceeded by the book.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 8 Apr. 2024
Expect a delightful, light-hearted comedy inspired by the book.
—Allison Kiehl, The Enquirer, 31 Mar. 2024
In a news conference last May, St. John County Sheriff Robert Hardwick had said the arrest was by the book and that Aguilar Mendez had been trespassing.
—Suzanne Gamboa, NBC News, 4 Mar. 2024
There is an oneiric, almost haunting quality to Sarai’s writing that is bolstered by the book’s images.
—Ana Karina Zatarain, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2024
Now in New York, where she’s enamored by Times Square, the Empire State Building and caricature artists, Elsbeth moves to the Big Apple to act as an outside observer for the Justice Department to ensure the NYPD works by the book.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 28 Feb. 2024
The Humana people paying the bills seem to be doing everything by the book.
—Peter J Reilly, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024
Where the previous Christie adaptations felt by the book, Venice startles at every turn and isn't afraid of jump scares and genuine moments of horror.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 9 Sep. 2023
Jessica Ferri, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2024
The prosecutor countered that those objections are invalid, and that the indictment proceeded by the book.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 8 Apr. 2024
Expect a delightful, light-hearted comedy inspired by the book.
—Allison Kiehl, The Enquirer, 31 Mar. 2024
In a news conference last May, St. John County Sheriff Robert Hardwick had said the arrest was by the book and that Aguilar Mendez had been trespassing.
—Suzanne Gamboa, NBC News, 4 Mar. 2024
There is an oneiric, almost haunting quality to Sarai’s writing that is bolstered by the book’s images.
—Ana Karina Zatarain, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2024
Now in New York, where she’s enamored by Times Square, the Empire State Building and caricature artists, Elsbeth moves to the Big Apple to act as an outside observer for the Justice Department to ensure the NYPD works by the book.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 28 Feb. 2024
The Humana people paying the bills seem to be doing everything by the book.
—Peter J Reilly, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024
Where the previous Christie adaptations felt by the book, Venice startles at every turn and isn't afraid of jump scares and genuine moments of horror.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 9 Sep. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'by the book.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“By the book.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/by%20the%20book. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.
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