Antonyms for by the book


Grammar : Adj, adv, noun
Spell : book
Phonetic Transcription : bÊŠk


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