Antonyms for by the book

Grammar : Adj, adv, noun

Spell : book

Phonetic Transcription : bʊk

Definition of by the book

Origin : Old English boc "book, writing, written document," traditionally from Proto-Germanic *bokiz "beech" (cf. German Buch "book" Buche "beech;" see beech), the notion being of beechwood tablets on which runes were inscribed, but it may be from the tree itself (people still carve initials in them). The Old English word originally meant any written document. Latin and Sanskrit also have words for "writing" that are based on tree names ("birch" and "ash," respectively). Meaning "libretto of an opera" is from 1768. A betting book is from 1856.

As in methodical/methodic : adj organized, precise
As in painstaking : adj meticulous, thorough
As in proper : adj mannerly, decent
As in stern : adj serious, authoritarian
As in stringent : adj rigid, tight
As in fair and square : adj completely honest and just
As in methodic : adj methodical
As in systematical : adj methodical
As in dead-on : adj exactly correct
As in exacting : adj demanding
As in by the numbers : adv according to rule
As in according to Hoyle : noun according to the highest authority
As in form : noun accepted procedure; ceremony

Synonyms for by the book

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019