How to Use by the book in a Sentence

by the book

idiom
Definition of by the booknext
  • This, of course, is one of the points implied by the book.
    — Richard Howells, Forbes, 6 June 2022
  • The work was done by the book, the director wrote in his Aug. 11 email.
    — Eric Tucker, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2023
  • The founder, a voracious reader named Richard Bartinsdale, was charmed by the book carts in Paris found on the banks of the Seine.
    — Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2022
  • Later, it was picked by the book review’s editors as one of the ten best books of 1983.
    — Aryeh Neier, The New York Review of Books, 22 June 2023
  • Inspired by the book of the same name, Ryan set out to write the script and recalled how the studio gave him creative freedom to achieve his goal.
    — Karen Idelson, Variety, 6 June 2023
  • The lens used to view those who clearly handle things by the book in the sport always is smaller, it should be stated.
    — Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2023
  • These travails aren’t tidily resolved by the book’s end.
    — Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 21 Oct. 2022
  • But Kim had been by the book, a moral and upstanding citizen and a damn fine attorney.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes, 13 Aug. 2022
  • Most baseball scholars would take issue with that approach, but then Perez never played by the book.
    — Dallas News, 30 Mar. 2022
  • And with the eyes of the world on them, Ukrainian authorities would have wanted the proceedings to be played entirely by the book.
    — Robert Goldman, The Conversation, 23 May 2022
  • Following several weeks of events inspired by the book, Jacob wraps up the program with a talk at 7:30 p.m.
    — oregonlive, 3 Mar. 2022
  • While Jordan was captivated by the book, Chang had to level with her about some harsh, real-world truths about it.
    — Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 24 Aug. 2023
  • At the same time, even if everything was done by the book, the politicization of the whole fracas means that blowback is inevitable regardless.
    — Jason Linkins, The New Republic, 12 Aug. 2022
  • Despite being inspired by the book series, the producers still wanted to make the TV series their own.
    — Jenna Wang, Peoplemag, 27 Oct. 2023
  • And, of course, Kansas City fans were likely to take the position, at least in this case, that calls have to be made by the book, regardless of the game situation.
    — Victor Mather, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2023
  • The student hit by the book was taken by ambulance to a hospital, according to the office.
    — Martin Weil, Washington Post, 8 June 2022
  • Never boring despite always playing things by the book, Obi-Wan is the stuff of Star Wars legend in his triumphs and his mistakes.
    — David Betancourt, Washington Post, 26 May 2022
  • There is neither a dramatic twist nor a novel conclusion; the people who seem most guilty by the book’s end were the same ones who stood trial over a decade ago.
    — Krithika Varagur, Foreign Affairs, 20 Dec. 2022
  • However, Simon & Schuster has stood by the book, and plans to release it on October 11.
    — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 27 Sep. 2022
  • The support shown by the book community was the opposite of what Meachen’s daughter contributed with driving her away in the first place.
    — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 4 Jan. 2023
  • Sasse’s sycophantic fanboys in the pundit camp were all willing to look past the way the senator’s own grasp on history was hardly by the book.
    — Jack McCordick, The New Republic, 30 Dec. 2022
  • The Run, Rose, Run album, containing 12 original songs inspired by the book, will be released a few days prior on March 4.
    — Sam Gillette, PEOPLE.com, 16 Feb. 2022
  • Capricorn December 22-January 19 Doing things by the book is wise at the moment.
    — Tarot Astrologers, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2023
  • QBs are no longer solely expected to be rigid ‘field generals’ that do things by the book and have a strong pocket presence and arm mechanics.
    — Sam Joseph, CNN, 10 Feb. 2024
  • There’s no credible sign that what the federal government did was anything besides by the book.
    — Daniel Strauss, The New Republic, 11 Aug. 2022
  • Pash was punctual, by the book and always in uniform; Berg was erratic, informal and often seen wearing a loose tie.
    — Zachary Clary, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Aug. 2023
  • Parton is also releasing a new album of original songs inspired by the book.
    — Marianne Garvey, CNN, 7 Mar. 2022
  • But what really makes the book worth reading is the broader wisdom in her story (and the absence of the self-importance implied by the book’s unfortunate title).
    — Bethany McLean, Washington Post, 8 June 2023
  • Besides the series, a companion documentary also inspired by the book will be produced for the service.
    — Michael Schneider, Variety, 1 Dec. 2021
  • True to his reputation for careful judgment, Garland went by the book in response to an avalanche of attacks from Trump allies demanding transparency about the search.
    — Clark D. Cunningham, The Conversation, 12 Aug. 2022

Some of 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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