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url(https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/cropped-About-Words-blog-header-2560x888-1.jpg)"> <img src="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/cropped-About-Words-blog-header-2560x888-1.jpg" width="1280" height="443" alt=""> </div> </a> <div id="content" class="site-content"> <div id="primary" class="content-area"> <main id="main" class="site-main" role="main"> <article id="post-20059" class="post-20059 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-idioms category-the-english-language tag-english-language tag-idioms tag-improve-your-english tag-vocabulary"> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <header class="entry-header"> <h1 class="entry-title">Cooking or hitting the books? (Idioms with ‘book’)</h1> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="posted-on">On <a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/10/23/cooking-or-hitting-the-books-idioms-with-book/" rel="bookmark"><time class="entry-date published" datetime="2024-10-23T12:00:16+01:00">October 23, 2024</time><time class="updated" datetime="2024-10-24T10:28:43+01:00">October 24, 2024</time></a></span><span class="byline"> By <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/author/katewoodford/">Kate Woodford</a></span></span><span class="cat-links">In <a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/category/idioms/" rel="category tag">Idioms</a>, <a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/category/the-english-language/" rel="category tag">the English language</a></span> </div> </header> <div class="entry-content"> <p><em>Listen to the author reading this blog post.</em></p>  <audio class="wp-audio-shortcode" id="audio-20059-1" preload="none" style="width: 100%;" controls="controls"><source type="audio/mpeg" src="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Cooking-or-hitting-the-books_Kate_23.10.24.mp3?_=1" /><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Cooking-or-hitting-the-books_Kate_23.10.24.mp3">https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Cooking-or-hitting-the-books_Kate_23.10.24.mp3</a></audio> <p> </p> <figure id="attachment_20244" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-20244" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Cooking-or-hitting-books_82193302.jpg?ssl=1"><img data-recalc-dims="1" fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" data-attachment-id="20244" data-permalink="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/10/23/cooking-or-hitting-the-books-idioms-with-book/woman-sat-on-plane-two-men-asleep-on-her-shoulders/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Cooking-or-hitting-books_82193302.jpg?fit=4992%2C3328&ssl=1" data-orig-size="4992,3328" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"Getty Images","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1208361526","copyright":"Peter Cade","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"Woman sat on plane two men asleep on her shoulders","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Woman sat on plane two men asleep on her shoulders" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="<p>Peter Cade / Stone </p> " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Cooking-or-hitting-books_82193302.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Cooking-or-hitting-books_82193302.jpg?fit=640%2C427&ssl=1" class="size-medium wp-image-20244" src="https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Cooking-or-hitting-books_82193302.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1" alt="Two sleeping passengers leaning on either shoulder of another passenger who is trying to read a book" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Cooking-or-hitting-books_82193302.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Cooking-or-hitting-books_82193302.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Cooking-or-hitting-books_82193302.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Cooking-or-hitting-books_82193302.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Cooking-or-hitting-books_82193302.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Cooking-or-hitting-books_82193302.jpg?resize=900%2C600&ssl=1 900w, https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Cooking-or-hitting-books_82193302.jpg?resize=1280%2C853&ssl=1 1280w, https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Cooking-or-hitting-books_82193302.jpg?w=1920&ssl=1 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-20244" class="wp-caption-text">Peter Cade / Stone</figcaption></figure> <p>by <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/katewoodford2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kate Woodford</a></strong></p> <p>Books play a hugely significant role in all our lives, so it’s probably no surprise that there are a lot of English idioms that include the word ‘book’. In this post, I’ve selected what I consider to be the most useful and current ones and look at how they are used.</p> <p><span id="more-20059"></span></p> <p>Let’s start with two idioms in which the ‘book’ element represents a person’s way of thinking or behaving. The expression <a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/in-book?q=in+my+book"><strong>in my book</strong></a> is used for introducing your opinion, especially an opinion that relates to rules or moral standards:</p> <p><em>He didn’t lie to her, but he didn’t tell her the whole truth either, and in my book, that’s the same thing.</em></p> <p>Meanwhile, if you <a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/take-a-leaf-out-of-book?q=take+a+leaf+out+of+sb%27s+book"><strong>take a leaf out of someone’s book</strong></a>, you copy a particular thing that they do, often because you have seen it succeed for them:</p> <p><em>Maybe you should take a leaf out of Maria’s book and refuse to participate.</em></p> <p>Three other ‘book’ idioms relate to knowledge and understanding. If you say you <strong>can read</strong> <strong>someone like a book</strong>, you mean you know what they are thinking or how they are feeling. You might also describe a person or their life as <a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/open-book"><strong>an open book</strong></a>, meaning that they don’t keep their actions or thoughts and feelings private. Conversely, the expression <a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/closed-book"><strong>a closed book</strong></a> refers to a person or subject that little or nothing is known about:</p> <p><em>After all these years, I know him so well that I can read him like a book.</em></p> <p><em>Her husband is rather reserved, but she’s always been an open book. </em></p> <p><em>Algebra – and mathematics generally – remained a closed book till he was well into his twenties.</em></p> <p>In a couple of idioms, ‘book’ simply refers to a set of printed pages. If someone <a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/have-nose-in-a-book?q=have+your+nose+in+a+book"><strong>has their nose in a book</strong></a>, they are reading. (This is usually used of a person who reads a lot.) The rather informal phrase <a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/hit-the-books"><strong>hit the books</strong></a> means ‘study’:</p> <p><em>You can usually find him curled up on the sofa, with his nose in a book. </em></p> <p><em>I’d better not go out tonight – I really need to hit the books.</em></p> <p>Other ‘book’ idioms convey a range of meanings. For example, if you do something<a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/by-the-book"><strong> by the book</strong></a>, you do it exactly as the rules tell you to:</p> <p><em>You know what he’s like – he does everything by the book.</em></p> <p>Someone who <a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/cook-the-books"><strong>cooks the books</strong></a> deliberately gives false information about a company’s accounts. This is an informal expression:</p> <p><em>They’re the latest company to be caught cooking the books.</em></p> <p>Finally, if you are <a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/in-good-books?q=in+sb%27s+good+books"><strong>in </strong>someone’s<strong> good books</strong></a>, they are pleased with you about something you have done. Conversely, if you are <a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/in-bad-books?q=in+sb%27s+bad+books"><strong>in </strong>someone’s<strong> bad/black books</strong></a>, they are annoyed with you about your behaviour:</p> <p><em>I’m in her good books because I’ve cooked dinner every night this week.</em></p> <p><em>He’s in my bad books because he never returned my call.</em></p> <p>That concludes my look at ‘book’ idioms. Are you in someone’s good books or bad books at the moment? 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(Idioms with ‘book’)</span>” </h2> <ol class="comment-list"> <li id="comment-252379" class="comment even thread-even depth-1 parent"> <article id="div-comment-252379" class="comment-body"> <footer class="comment-meta"> <div class="comment-author vcard"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/b4796a7c8f13ebec3a71ea3d2334881b?s=60&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/b4796a7c8f13ebec3a71ea3d2334881b?s=120&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-60 photo' height='60' width='60' decoding='async'/> <b class="fn">Arben Kelmendi</b> </div> </footer> <div class="comment-content"> <p>Books plays?! (at the very beginning of the blog). Is this grammatically correct?</p> <div class='jetpack-comment-likes-widget-wrapper jetpack-likes-widget-unloaded' id='like-comment-wrapper-18458032-252379-67b3ae757e588' data-src='https://widgets.wp.com/likes/#blog_id=18458032&comment_id=252379&origin=dictionaryblog.cambridge.org&obj_id=18458032-252379-67b3ae757e588' data-name='like-comment-frame-18458032-252379-67b3ae757e588'> <div class='likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes'><span class='loading'>Loading...</span></div> <div class='comment-likes-widget jetpack-likes-widget comment-likes'><span class='comment-like-feedback'></span><span class='sd-text-color'></span><a class='sd-link-color'></a></div> </div> </div> <div class="comment-metadata"> <a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/10/23/cooking-or-hitting-the-books-idioms-with-book/#comment-252379"> <time datetime="2024-10-23T14:18:41+01:00"> October 23, 2024 at 2:18 pm </time> </a> <span class="reply"><a rel="nofollow" class="comment-reply-link" href="#comment-252379" data-commentid="252379" data-postid="20059" data-belowelement="div-comment-252379" data-respondelement="respond" data-replyto="Reply to Arben Kelmendi" aria-label="Reply to Arben Kelmendi">Reply</a></span> </div> </article> <ol class="children"> <li id="comment-252383" class="comment odd alt depth-2"> <article id="div-comment-252383" class="comment-body"> <footer class="comment-meta"> <div class="comment-author vcard"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5e9574e915068a7f7119393dd5df5f8d?s=60&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5e9574e915068a7f7119393dd5df5f8d?s=120&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-60 photo' height='60' width='60' decoding='async'/> <b class="fn">Tajdaar</b> </div> </footer> <div class="comment-content"> <p>That’s a typo – obviously it should be “books play”. Why did you put a question mark? Of course it is grammar incorrect.</p> <div class='jetpack-comment-likes-widget-wrapper jetpack-likes-widget-unloaded' id='like-comment-wrapper-18458032-252383-67b3ae757efd3' data-src='https://widgets.wp.com/likes/#blog_id=18458032&comment_id=252383&origin=dictionaryblog.cambridge.org&obj_id=18458032-252383-67b3ae757efd3' data-name='like-comment-frame-18458032-252383-67b3ae757efd3'> <div class='likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes'><span class='loading'>Loading...</span></div> <div class='comment-likes-widget jetpack-likes-widget comment-likes'><span class='comment-like-feedback'></span><span class='sd-text-color'></span><a class='sd-link-color'></a></div> </div> </div> <div class="comment-metadata"> <a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/10/23/cooking-or-hitting-the-books-idioms-with-book/#comment-252383"> <time datetime="2024-10-24T04:01:35+01:00"> October 24, 2024 at 4:01 am </time> </a> <span class="reply"><a rel="nofollow" class="comment-reply-link" href="#comment-252383" data-commentid="252383" data-postid="20059" data-belowelement="div-comment-252383" data-respondelement="respond" data-replyto="Reply to Tajdaar" aria-label="Reply to Tajdaar">Reply</a></span> </div> </article> </li> <li id="comment-252384" class="comment even depth-2 parent"> <article id="div-comment-252384" class="comment-body"> <footer class="comment-meta"> <div class="comment-author vcard"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/05b75a5d7d6af8b913614a79c7521792?s=60&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/05b75a5d7d6af8b913614a79c7521792?s=120&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-60 photo' height='60' width='60' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <b class="fn">Alex</b> </div> </footer> <div class="comment-content"> <p>Same here. I noticed that and now wonder whether it’s a typo or you can actually say that perhaps considering “books” a collective noun or something like that. Let’s see if the author can clarify this.</p> <div class='jetpack-comment-likes-widget-wrapper jetpack-likes-widget-unloaded' id='like-comment-wrapper-18458032-252384-67b3ae757f93a' data-src='https://widgets.wp.com/likes/#blog_id=18458032&comment_id=252384&origin=dictionaryblog.cambridge.org&obj_id=18458032-252384-67b3ae757f93a' data-name='like-comment-frame-18458032-252384-67b3ae757f93a'> <div class='likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes'><span class='loading'>Loading...</span></div> <div class='comment-likes-widget jetpack-likes-widget comment-likes'><span class='comment-like-feedback'></span><span class='sd-text-color'></span><a class='sd-link-color'></a></div> </div> </div> <div class="comment-metadata"> <a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/10/23/cooking-or-hitting-the-books-idioms-with-book/#comment-252384"> <time datetime="2024-10-24T07:51:14+01:00"> October 24, 2024 at 7:51 am </time> </a> <span class="reply"><a rel="nofollow" class="comment-reply-link" href="#comment-252384" data-commentid="252384" data-postid="20059" data-belowelement="div-comment-252384" data-respondelement="respond" data-replyto="Reply to Alex" aria-label="Reply to Alex">Reply</a></span> </div> </article> <ol class="children"> <li id="comment-252387" class="comment byuser comment-author-katewoodford bypostauthor odd alt depth-3"> <article id="div-comment-252387" class="comment-body"> <footer class="comment-meta"> <div class="comment-author vcard"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bac5c241ed0266a1b470307bc436f58f?s=60&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bac5c241ed0266a1b470307bc436f58f?s=120&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-60 photo' height='60' width='60' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <b class="fn">Kate Woodford</b> </div> </footer> <div class="comment-content"> <p>Thanks for giving us the benefit of the doubt! Corrected now!</p> <div class='jetpack-comment-likes-widget-wrapper jetpack-likes-widget-unloaded' id='like-comment-wrapper-18458032-252387-67b3ae75802b6' data-src='https://widgets.wp.com/likes/#blog_id=18458032&comment_id=252387&origin=dictionaryblog.cambridge.org&obj_id=18458032-252387-67b3ae75802b6' data-name='like-comment-frame-18458032-252387-67b3ae75802b6'> <div class='likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes'><span class='loading'>Loading...</span></div> <div class='comment-likes-widget jetpack-likes-widget comment-likes'><span class='comment-like-feedback'></span><span class='sd-text-color'></span><a class='sd-link-color'></a></div> </div> </div> <div class="comment-metadata"> <a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/10/23/cooking-or-hitting-the-books-idioms-with-book/#comment-252387"> <time datetime="2024-10-24T10:42:28+01:00"> October 24, 2024 at 10:42 am </time> </a> </div> </article> </li> </ol> </li> <li id="comment-252385" class="comment even depth-2"> <article id="div-comment-252385" class="comment-body"> <footer class="comment-meta"> <div class="comment-author vcard"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9aa647bdff9313e060166191da9e81dc?s=60&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9aa647bdff9313e060166191da9e81dc?s=120&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-60 photo' height='60' width='60' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <b class="fn">Jayden Li</b> </div> </footer> <div class="comment-content"> <p>It should be a typo. You are right.</p> <div class='jetpack-comment-likes-widget-wrapper jetpack-likes-widget-unloaded' id='like-comment-wrapper-18458032-252385-67b3ae7580ab6' data-src='https://widgets.wp.com/likes/#blog_id=18458032&comment_id=252385&origin=dictionaryblog.cambridge.org&obj_id=18458032-252385-67b3ae7580ab6' data-name='like-comment-frame-18458032-252385-67b3ae7580ab6'> <div class='likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes'><span class='loading'>Loading...</span></div> <div class='comment-likes-widget jetpack-likes-widget comment-likes'><span class='comment-like-feedback'></span><span class='sd-text-color'></span><a class='sd-link-color'></a></div> </div> </div> <div class="comment-metadata"> <a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/10/23/cooking-or-hitting-the-books-idioms-with-book/#comment-252385"> <time datetime="2024-10-24T08:16:58+01:00"> October 24, 2024 at 8:16 am </time> </a> <span class="reply"><a rel="nofollow" class="comment-reply-link" href="#comment-252385" data-commentid="252385" data-postid="20059" data-belowelement="div-comment-252385" data-respondelement="respond" data-replyto="Reply to Jayden Li" aria-label="Reply to Jayden Li">Reply</a></span> </div> </article> </li> <li id="comment-252386" class="comment byuser comment-author-katewoodford bypostauthor odd alt depth-2"> <article id="div-comment-252386" class="comment-body"> <footer class="comment-meta"> <div class="comment-author vcard"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bac5c241ed0266a1b470307bc436f58f?s=60&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bac5c241ed0266a1b470307bc436f58f?s=120&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-60 photo' height='60' width='60' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <b class="fn">Kate Woodford</b> </div> </footer> <div class="comment-content"> <p>Hello! Sincere apologies for this typo – and thanks for alerting us! Corrected now.</p> <div class='jetpack-comment-likes-widget-wrapper jetpack-likes-widget-unloaded' id='like-comment-wrapper-18458032-252386-67b3ae75813f2' data-src='https://widgets.wp.com/likes/#blog_id=18458032&comment_id=252386&origin=dictionaryblog.cambridge.org&obj_id=18458032-252386-67b3ae75813f2' data-name='like-comment-frame-18458032-252386-67b3ae75813f2'> <div class='likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes'><span class='loading'>Loading...</span></div> <div class='comment-likes-widget jetpack-likes-widget comment-likes'><span class='comment-like-feedback'></span><span class='sd-text-color'></span><a class='sd-link-color'></a></div> </div> </div> <div class="comment-metadata"> <a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/10/23/cooking-or-hitting-the-books-idioms-with-book/#comment-252386"> <time datetime="2024-10-24T10:41:14+01:00"> October 24, 2024 at 10:41 am </time> </a> <span class="reply"><a rel="nofollow" class="comment-reply-link" href="#comment-252386" data-commentid="252386" data-postid="20059" data-belowelement="div-comment-252386" data-respondelement="respond" data-replyto="Reply to Kate Woodford" aria-label="Reply to Kate Woodford">Reply</a></span> </div> </article> </li> <li id="comment-252388" class="comment byuser comment-author-katewoodford bypostauthor even depth-2 parent"> <article id="div-comment-252388" class="comment-body"> <footer class="comment-meta"> <div class="comment-author vcard"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bac5c241ed0266a1b470307bc436f58f?s=60&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bac5c241ed0266a1b470307bc436f58f?s=120&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-60 photo' height='60' width='60' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <b class="fn">Kate Woodford</b> </div> </footer> <div class="comment-content"> <p>It was a typo – our apologies! It’s correct now. </p> <div class='jetpack-comment-likes-widget-wrapper jetpack-likes-widget-unloaded' id='like-comment-wrapper-18458032-252388-67b3ae7581d7c' data-src='https://widgets.wp.com/likes/#blog_id=18458032&comment_id=252388&origin=dictionaryblog.cambridge.org&obj_id=18458032-252388-67b3ae7581d7c' data-name='like-comment-frame-18458032-252388-67b3ae7581d7c'> <div class='likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes'><span class='loading'>Loading...</span></div> <div class='comment-likes-widget jetpack-likes-widget comment-likes'><span class='comment-like-feedback'></span><span class='sd-text-color'></span><a class='sd-link-color'></a></div> </div> </div> <div class="comment-metadata"> <a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/10/23/cooking-or-hitting-the-books-idioms-with-book/#comment-252388"> <time datetime="2024-10-24T10:43:09+01:00"> October 24, 2024 at 10:43 am </time> </a> <span class="reply"><a rel="nofollow" class="comment-reply-link" href="#comment-252388" data-commentid="252388" data-postid="20059" data-belowelement="div-comment-252388" data-respondelement="respond" data-replyto="Reply to Kate Woodford" aria-label="Reply to Kate Woodford">Reply</a></span> </div> </article> <ol class="children"> <li id="comment-252417" class="comment odd alt depth-3"> <article id="div-comment-252417" class="comment-body"> <footer class="comment-meta"> <div class="comment-author vcard"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/cd6a2424345bcdca478bc1e9f10b0970?s=60&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/cd6a2424345bcdca478bc1e9f10b0970?s=120&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-60 photo' height='60' width='60' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <b class="fn">Kali</b> </div> </footer> <div class="comment-content"> <p>“Don’t judge a book by its cover” is a nice one!</p> <div class='jetpack-comment-likes-widget-wrapper jetpack-likes-widget-unloaded' id='like-comment-wrapper-18458032-252417-67b3ae758265d' data-src='https://widgets.wp.com/likes/#blog_id=18458032&comment_id=252417&origin=dictionaryblog.cambridge.org&obj_id=18458032-252417-67b3ae758265d' data-name='like-comment-frame-18458032-252417-67b3ae758265d'> <div class='likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes'><span class='loading'>Loading...</span></div> <div class='comment-likes-widget jetpack-likes-widget comment-likes'><span class='comment-like-feedback'></span><span class='sd-text-color'></span><a class='sd-link-color'></a></div> </div> </div> <div class="comment-metadata"> <a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/10/23/cooking-or-hitting-the-books-idioms-with-book/#comment-252417"> <time datetime="2024-10-25T20:29:31+01:00"> October 25, 2024 at 8:29 pm </time> </a> </div> </article> </li> </ol> </li> </ol> </li> <li id="comment-252380" class="comment even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 parent"> <article id="div-comment-252380" class="comment-body"> <footer class="comment-meta"> <div class="comment-author vcard"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/e714f0fbe173a14d49ce27bc832a5417?s=60&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/e714f0fbe173a14d49ce27bc832a5417?s=120&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-60 photo' height='60' width='60' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <b class="fn">Henry</b> </div> </footer> <div class="comment-content"> <p>Thanks for this post. What about this idiomatic expression : don’t judge a book on its cover.</p> <div class='jetpack-comment-likes-widget-wrapper jetpack-likes-widget-unloaded' id='like-comment-wrapper-18458032-252380-67b3ae7582e40' data-src='https://widgets.wp.com/likes/#blog_id=18458032&comment_id=252380&origin=dictionaryblog.cambridge.org&obj_id=18458032-252380-67b3ae7582e40' data-name='like-comment-frame-18458032-252380-67b3ae7582e40'> <div class='likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes'><span class='loading'>Loading...</span></div> <div class='comment-likes-widget jetpack-likes-widget comment-likes'><span class='comment-like-feedback'></span><span class='sd-text-color'></span><a class='sd-link-color'></a></div> </div> </div> <div class="comment-metadata"> <a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/10/23/cooking-or-hitting-the-books-idioms-with-book/#comment-252380"> <time datetime="2024-10-23T14:19:10+01:00"> October 23, 2024 at 2:19 pm </time> </a> <span class="reply"><a rel="nofollow" class="comment-reply-link" href="#comment-252380" data-commentid="252380" data-postid="20059" data-belowelement="div-comment-252380" data-respondelement="respond" data-replyto="Reply to Henry" aria-label="Reply to Henry">Reply</a></span> </div> </article> <ol class="children"> <li id="comment-252399" class="comment odd alt depth-2"> <article id="div-comment-252399" class="comment-body"> <footer class="comment-meta"> <div class="comment-author vcard"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/d574cdf177a007d13829435a18e6f44b?s=60&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/d574cdf177a007d13829435a18e6f44b?s=120&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-60 photo' height='60' width='60' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <b class="fn">Liz</b> </div> </footer> <div class="comment-content"> <p>good example! (it’s “…by its cover”)</p> <div class='jetpack-comment-likes-widget-wrapper jetpack-likes-widget-unloaded' id='like-comment-wrapper-18458032-252399-67b3ae7583707' data-src='https://widgets.wp.com/likes/#blog_id=18458032&comment_id=252399&origin=dictionaryblog.cambridge.org&obj_id=18458032-252399-67b3ae7583707' data-name='like-comment-frame-18458032-252399-67b3ae7583707'> <div class='likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes'><span class='loading'>Loading...</span></div> <div class='comment-likes-widget jetpack-likes-widget comment-likes'><span class='comment-like-feedback'></span><span class='sd-text-color'></span><a class='sd-link-color'></a></div> </div> </div> <div class="comment-metadata"> <a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/10/23/cooking-or-hitting-the-books-idioms-with-book/#comment-252399"> <time datetime="2024-10-24T12:48:49+01:00"> October 24, 2024 at 12:48 pm </time> </a> <span class="reply"><a rel="nofollow" class="comment-reply-link" href="#comment-252399" data-commentid="252399" data-postid="20059" data-belowelement="div-comment-252399" data-respondelement="respond" data-replyto="Reply to Liz" aria-label="Reply to Liz">Reply</a></span> </div> </article> </li> <li id="comment-252407" class="comment even depth-2"> <article id="div-comment-252407" class="comment-body"> <footer class="comment-meta"> <div class="comment-author vcard"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/056cd56cfb78baadb340c45fb071d1fb?s=60&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/056cd56cfb78baadb340c45fb071d1fb?s=120&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-60 photo' height='60' width='60' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <b class="fn"><a href="http://Judy" class="url" rel="ugc external nofollow">Jude</a></b> </div> </footer> <div class="comment-content"> <p>Wasn’t is “by its cover”?</p> <div class='jetpack-comment-likes-widget-wrapper jetpack-likes-widget-unloaded' id='like-comment-wrapper-18458032-252407-67b3ae7584011' data-src='https://widgets.wp.com/likes/#blog_id=18458032&comment_id=252407&origin=dictionaryblog.cambridge.org&obj_id=18458032-252407-67b3ae7584011' data-name='like-comment-frame-18458032-252407-67b3ae7584011'> <div class='likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes'><span class='loading'>Loading...</span></div> <div class='comment-likes-widget jetpack-likes-widget comment-likes'><span class='comment-like-feedback'></span><span class='sd-text-color'></span><a class='sd-link-color'></a></div> </div> </div> <div class="comment-metadata"> <a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/10/23/cooking-or-hitting-the-books-idioms-with-book/#comment-252407"> <time datetime="2024-10-24T18:34:01+01:00"> October 24, 2024 at 6:34 pm </time> </a> <span class="reply"><a rel="nofollow" class="comment-reply-link" href="#comment-252407" data-commentid="252407" data-postid="20059" data-belowelement="div-comment-252407" data-respondelement="respond" data-replyto="Reply to Jude" aria-label="Reply to Jude">Reply</a></span> </div> </article> </li> <li id="comment-252415" class="comment odd alt depth-2"> <article id="div-comment-252415" class="comment-body"> <footer class="comment-meta"> <div class="comment-author vcard"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/c5a77b21a54785f9daf5067b63d2abd9?s=60&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/c5a77b21a54785f9daf5067b63d2abd9?s=120&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-60 photo' height='60' width='60' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <b class="fn">Sun</b> </div> </footer> <div class="comment-content"> <p>Dear Henry,<br /> that‘s a good idiom but it is<br /> to judge a book by its cover.</p> <div class='jetpack-comment-likes-widget-wrapper jetpack-likes-widget-unloaded' id='like-comment-wrapper-18458032-252415-67b3ae75848a5' data-src='https://widgets.wp.com/likes/#blog_id=18458032&comment_id=252415&origin=dictionaryblog.cambridge.org&obj_id=18458032-252415-67b3ae75848a5' data-name='like-comment-frame-18458032-252415-67b3ae75848a5'> <div class='likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes'><span class='loading'>Loading...</span></div> <div class='comment-likes-widget jetpack-likes-widget comment-likes'><span class='comment-like-feedback'></span><span class='sd-text-color'></span><a class='sd-link-color'></a></div> </div> </div> <div class="comment-metadata"> <a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/10/23/cooking-or-hitting-the-books-idioms-with-book/#comment-252415"> <time datetime="2024-10-25T12:41:43+01:00"> October 25, 2024 at 12:41 pm </time> </a> <span class="reply"><a rel="nofollow" class="comment-reply-link" href="#comment-252415" data-commentid="252415" data-postid="20059" data-belowelement="div-comment-252415" data-respondelement="respond" data-replyto="Reply to Sun" aria-label="Reply to Sun">Reply</a></span> </div> </article> </li> <li id="comment-252419" class="comment even depth-2"> <article id="div-comment-252419" class="comment-body"> <footer class="comment-meta"> <div class="comment-author vcard"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8e0f7d0a8df649b1ce008fec716877bc?s=60&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8e0f7d0a8df649b1ce008fec716877bc?s=120&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-60 photo' height='60' width='60' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <b class="fn">AZS</b> </div> </footer> <div class="comment-content"> <p>I think you say ‘by it’s cover’ and not ‘on’.</p> <div class='jetpack-comment-likes-widget-wrapper jetpack-likes-widget-unloaded' id='like-comment-wrapper-18458032-252419-67b3ae7585160' data-src='https://widgets.wp.com/likes/#blog_id=18458032&comment_id=252419&origin=dictionaryblog.cambridge.org&obj_id=18458032-252419-67b3ae7585160' data-name='like-comment-frame-18458032-252419-67b3ae7585160'> <div class='likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes'><span class='loading'>Loading...</span></div> <div class='comment-likes-widget jetpack-likes-widget comment-likes'><span class='comment-like-feedback'></span><span class='sd-text-color'></span><a class='sd-link-color'></a></div> </div> </div> <div class="comment-metadata"> <a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/10/23/cooking-or-hitting-the-books-idioms-with-book/#comment-252419"> <time datetime="2024-10-25T22:29:12+01:00"> October 25, 2024 at 10:29 pm </time> </a> <span class="reply"><a rel="nofollow" class="comment-reply-link" href="#comment-252419" data-commentid="252419" data-postid="20059" data-belowelement="div-comment-252419" data-respondelement="respond" data-replyto="Reply to AZS" aria-label="Reply to AZS">Reply</a></span> </div> </article> </li> </ol> </li> <li id="comment-252400" class="comment odd alt thread-even depth-1"> <article id="div-comment-252400" class="comment-body"> <footer class="comment-meta"> <div class="comment-author vcard"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/774ef77b1e40ca62b80d0230084e9d35?s=60&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/774ef77b1e40ca62b80d0230084e9d35?s=120&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-60 photo' height='60' width='60' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <b class="fn">Philipp</b> </div> </footer> <div class="comment-content"> <p>I have two more book related idioms that I like a lot. They might be more common in American English, but still:</p> <p>to do sth. by the book<br /> = to follow the rules exactly for a certain procedure</p> <p>to throw the book at someone<br /> =to make full use of the legal system to punish someone</p> <div class='jetpack-comment-likes-widget-wrapper jetpack-likes-widget-unloaded' id='like-comment-wrapper-18458032-252400-67b3ae75859de' data-src='https://widgets.wp.com/likes/#blog_id=18458032&comment_id=252400&origin=dictionaryblog.cambridge.org&obj_id=18458032-252400-67b3ae75859de' data-name='like-comment-frame-18458032-252400-67b3ae75859de'> <div class='likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes'><span class='loading'>Loading...</span></div> <div class='comment-likes-widget jetpack-likes-widget comment-likes'><span class='comment-like-feedback'></span><span class='sd-text-color'></span><a class='sd-link-color'></a></div> </div> </div> <div class="comment-metadata"> <a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/10/23/cooking-or-hitting-the-books-idioms-with-book/#comment-252400"> <time datetime="2024-10-24T13:28:19+01:00"> October 24, 2024 at 1:28 pm </time> </a> <span class="reply"><a rel="nofollow" class="comment-reply-link" href="#comment-252400" data-commentid="252400" data-postid="20059" data-belowelement="div-comment-252400" data-respondelement="respond" data-replyto="Reply to Philipp" aria-label="Reply to Philipp">Reply</a></span> </div> </article> </li> <li id="comment-252430" class="comment even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 parent"> <article id="div-comment-252430" class="comment-body"> <footer class="comment-meta"> <div class="comment-author vcard"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/291cd2c2a884688d41ea58823e25007e?s=60&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/291cd2c2a884688d41ea58823e25007e?s=120&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-60 photo' height='60' width='60' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <b class="fn">Denis</b> </div> </footer> <div class="comment-content"> <p>Awesome article! Always enjoy spending time learning something new about English.</p> <p>Now let’s practice: As far as I’m aware, I’m in many people’s good books currently because I try to treat others as I’d like to be treated myself. However, it’s still quite possible that I can be in someone’s bad books. You never know, maybe I said something rather offensive to someone without intending to do so.</p> <div class='jetpack-comment-likes-widget-wrapper jetpack-likes-widget-unloaded' id='like-comment-wrapper-18458032-252430-67b3ae7586304' data-src='https://widgets.wp.com/likes/#blog_id=18458032&comment_id=252430&origin=dictionaryblog.cambridge.org&obj_id=18458032-252430-67b3ae7586304' data-name='like-comment-frame-18458032-252430-67b3ae7586304'> <div class='likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes'><span class='loading'>Loading...</span></div> <div class='comment-likes-widget jetpack-likes-widget comment-likes'><span class='comment-like-feedback'></span><span class='sd-text-color'></span><a class='sd-link-color'></a></div> </div> </div> <div class="comment-metadata"> <a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/10/23/cooking-or-hitting-the-books-idioms-with-book/#comment-252430"> <time datetime="2024-10-30T09:19:22+00:00"> October 30, 2024 at 9:19 am </time> </a> <span class="reply"><a rel="nofollow" class="comment-reply-link" href="#comment-252430" data-commentid="252430" data-postid="20059" data-belowelement="div-comment-252430" data-respondelement="respond" data-replyto="Reply to Denis" aria-label="Reply to Denis">Reply</a></span> </div> </article> <ol class="children"> <li id="comment-252463" class="comment byuser comment-author-katewoodford bypostauthor odd alt depth-2"> <article id="div-comment-252463" class="comment-body"> <footer class="comment-meta"> <div class="comment-author vcard"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bac5c241ed0266a1b470307bc436f58f?s=60&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bac5c241ed0266a1b470307bc436f58f?s=120&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-60 photo' height='60' width='60' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <b class="fn">Kate Woodford</b> </div> </footer> <div class="comment-content"> <p>Thanks for the great feedback. You’re definitely in our good books!</p> <div class='jetpack-comment-likes-widget-wrapper jetpack-likes-widget-unloaded' id='like-comment-wrapper-18458032-252463-67b3ae7586ccd' data-src='https://widgets.wp.com/likes/#blog_id=18458032&comment_id=252463&origin=dictionaryblog.cambridge.org&obj_id=18458032-252463-67b3ae7586ccd' data-name='like-comment-frame-18458032-252463-67b3ae7586ccd'> <div class='likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes'><span class='loading'>Loading...</span></div> <div class='comment-likes-widget jetpack-likes-widget comment-likes'><span class='comment-like-feedback'></span><span class='sd-text-color'></span><a class='sd-link-color'></a></div> </div> </div> <div class="comment-metadata"> <a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/10/23/cooking-or-hitting-the-books-idioms-with-book/#comment-252463"> <time datetime="2024-11-05T09:24:04+00:00"> November 5, 2024 at 9:24 am </time> </a> <span class="reply"><a rel="nofollow" class="comment-reply-link" href="#comment-252463" data-commentid="252463" data-postid="20059" data-belowelement="div-comment-252463" data-respondelement="respond" data-replyto="Reply to Kate Woodford" aria-label="Reply to Kate Woodford">Reply</a></span> </div> </article> </li> </ol> </li> </ol> <div id="respond" class="comment-respond"> <h3 id="reply-title" class="comment-reply-title">Leave a Reply<small><a rel="nofollow" id="cancel-comment-reply-link" href="/2024/10/23/cooking-or-hitting-the-books-idioms-with-book/#respond" style="display:none;">Cancel reply</a></small></h3> <form id="commentform" class="comment-form"> <iframe title="Comment Form" src="https://jetpack.wordpress.com/jetpack-comment/?blogid=18458032&postid=20059&comment_registration=0&require_name_email=1&stc_enabled=1&stb_enabled=1&show_avatars=1&avatar_default=identicon&greeting=Leave+a+Reply&jetpack_comments_nonce=9f5c26ab8c&greeting_reply=Leave+a+Reply+to+%25s&color_scheme=light&lang=en_US&jetpack_version=14.4-a.3&iframe_unique_id=1&show_cookie_consent=10&has_cookie_consent=0&is_current_user_subscribed=0&token_key=%3Bnormal%3B&sig=5355604ed8804ba5d37284d4fcaaae8643ba654d#parent=https%3A%2F%2Fdictionaryblog.cambridge.org%2F2024%2F10%2F23%2Fcooking-or-hitting-the-books-idioms-with-book%2F" name="jetpack_remote_comment" style="width:100%; 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Phrases that suddenly become popular." class="bump-view" data-bump-view="tp"><img loading="lazy" width="200" height="200" src="https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/madasaboxoffrogs.jpg?resize=200%2C200" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/madasaboxoffrogs.jpg?resize=200%2C200 1x" alt="Mad as a box of frogs? Phrases that suddenly become popular." data-pin-nopin="true"/></a></div></div> </aside><aside id="authors-2" class="widget widget_authors"><h1 class="widget-title">Authors</h1><ul><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/author/aezrac/"> <img alt='1' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/26f314c4585b5bdb9d749f149ee7f10b?s=48&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/26f314c4585b5bdb9d749f149ee7f10b?s=96&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-48 photo' height='48' width='48' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <strong>Ron Carter</strong></a><ul><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2011/12/14/a-few-words-on-corpus-linguistics-part-2/" title="A few words on corpus linguistics part 2">A few words on corpus linguistics part 2</a></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2011/12/12/a-few-words-on-corpus-linguistics/" title="A few words on corpus linguistics">A few words on corpus linguistics</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/author/cambridgewords/"> <img alt='1' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/aef1e4cb2fd31e8f50444ca18ada3b49?s=48&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/aef1e4cb2fd31e8f50444ca18ada3b49?s=96&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-48 photo' height='48' width='48' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <strong>Cambridge Words</strong></a><ul><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2025/02/17/new-words-17-february-2025/" title="New words – 17 February 2025">New words – 17 February 2025</a></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2025/02/10/new-words-10-february-2025/" title="New words – 10 February 2025">New words – 10 February 2025</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/author/colinjmcintosh/"> <img alt='1' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/50053df1e6dad3114823d445b2ffaa08?s=48&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/50053df1e6dad3114823d445b2ffaa08?s=96&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-48 photo' height='48' width='48' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <strong>colinjmcintosh</strong></a><ul><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2016/08/02/a-life-beyond-fiction/" title="A life beyond fiction">A life beyond fiction</a></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2016/07/26/whats-in-a-name/" title="What’s in a name?">What’s in a name?</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/author/domcambridge/"> <img alt='1' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/0f327ac6616afccb2cad6596b5597928?s=48&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/0f327ac6616afccb2cad6596b5597928?s=96&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-48 photo' height='48' width='48' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <strong>Dom Glennon</strong></a><ul><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2014/11/26/countability-grammar-codes/" title="Countability – grammar codes">Countability – grammar codes</a></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2014/06/04/hairdryers-and-squeaky-bums-the-colourful-world-of-football-words/" title="Hairdryers and squeaky bums: the colourful world of football words">Hairdryers and squeaky bums: the colourful world of football words</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/author/drheikek/"> <img alt='1' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ca0ebdcb2fdc28a6eeaf6b28ca63a6cb?s=48&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ca0ebdcb2fdc28a6eeaf6b28ca63a6cb?s=96&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-48 photo' height='48' width='48' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <strong>Dr Heike Krüsemann</strong></a><ul><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2020/08/21/how-to-stay-motivated-during-the-pandemic-what-you-told-us-and-why-it-matters/" title="How to stay motivated during the pandemic: What you told us, and why it matters">How to stay motivated during the pandemic: What you told us, and why it matters</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/author/hughrawson/"> <img alt='1' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/b0b0435c3c567be5d0f6979e5d464be5?s=48&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/b0b0435c3c567be5d0f6979e5d464be5?s=96&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-48 photo' height='48' width='48' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <strong>hughrawson</strong></a><ul><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2013/07/01/janus-words-two-faced-english/" title="Janus Words – Two-faced English">Janus Words – Two-faced English</a></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2013/06/24/yet-more-yiddish/" title="Yet More Yiddish">Yet More Yiddish</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/author/katewoodford/"> <img alt='1' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bac5c241ed0266a1b470307bc436f58f?s=48&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bac5c241ed0266a1b470307bc436f58f?s=96&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-48 photo' height='48' width='48' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <strong>Kate Woodford</strong></a><ul><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2025/02/12/chilled-to-the-bone-or-roasting-the-effect-that-the-weather-has-on-us/" title="Chilled to the bone or roasting? (The effect that the weather has on us)">Chilled to the bone or roasting? (The effect that the weather has on us)</a></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2025/01/29/getting-hitched-and-biting-your-tongue-newspaper-idioms/" title="Getting hitched and biting your tongue (Newspaper idioms)">Getting hitched and biting your tongue (Newspaper idioms)</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/author/lizwalter2/"> <img alt='1' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4a29a1e94375522c0920818e6d4c4249?s=48&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4a29a1e94375522c0920818e6d4c4249?s=96&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-48 photo' height='48' width='48' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <strong>Liz Walter</strong></a><ul><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2025/02/05/reckless-and-impulsive-acting-without-enough-thought/" title="Reckless and impulsive: words for acting without enough thought">Reckless and impulsive: words for acting without enough thought</a></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2025/01/15/toddlers-tweens-and-pensioners-more-words-for-talking-about-age/" title="Toddlers, tweens and pensioners: more words for talking about age">Toddlers, tweens and pensioners: more words for talking about age</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/author/patriciaferraz/"> <img alt='1' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/6cc62e6d9d2486f6f3e1d23e8ed1954c?s=48&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/6cc62e6d9d2486f6f3e1d23e8ed1954c?s=96&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-48 photo' height='48' width='48' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <strong>Patricia Ferraz</strong></a><ul><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/07/24/idioms-in-the-guernsey-literary-and-potato-peel-pie-society/" title="Putting a spanner in the works – Idioms in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society">Putting a spanner in the works – Idioms in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society</a></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/07/17/idioms-in-the-thursday-murder-club/" title="In for a penny, in for a pound: Idioms in The Thursday Murder Club">In for a penny, in for a pound: Idioms in The Thursday Murder Club</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/author/pheacock/"> <img alt='1' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4e3a803c8f45bbf76eeaa384a0210bd5?s=48&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4e3a803c8f45bbf76eeaa384a0210bd5?s=96&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-48 photo' height='48' width='48' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <strong>Paul Heacock</strong></a><ul><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2013/06/12/asadfarewell/" title="A sad farewell">A sad farewell</a></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2012/12/18/the-words-of-2012/" title="The words of 2012">The words of 2012</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/author/racheledf/"> <img alt='1' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/13391686972a7e5cb25e9c3e7c977088?s=48&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/13391686972a7e5cb25e9c3e7c977088?s=96&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-48 photo' height='48' width='48' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <strong>racheledf</strong></a><ul><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2012/01/13/what-can-we-learn-from-emails/" title="What can we learn from emails?">What can we learn from emails?</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/author/trevorbryden/"> <img alt='1' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/c1bae3f8b5386d3c4e41bef30ba924e8?s=48&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/c1bae3f8b5386d3c4e41bef30ba924e8?s=96&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-48 photo' height='48' width='48' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <strong>Trevor Bryden</strong></a><ul><li><a 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