20 Idioms Related to Books and Reading

20 Idioms Related to Books and Reading (with Meanings & Natural Examples)

Hello, English learners! Welcome to a new lesson. Today, we are diving into the world of idioms related to books and reading — expressions that English speakers use every day to talk about knowledge, understanding, behaviour, and life experience. Learning these idioms will enrich your vocabulary, add colour to your writing, and make your spoken English sound more natural and confident.

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a word or expression whose meaning cannot be understood from the literal meanings of the individual words. Instead, it has a figurative meaning that has developed through common use.

For example, if someone says they need to hit the books, they are not attacking a pile of textbooks — they are studying hard.

Idioms are often culturally specific, reflecting shared experiences, values, and traditions. This makes them challenging, but also extremely rewarding to learn.

In this lesson, you’ll learn 20 book-related idioms, with clear meanings and natural examples you can use in real life.

Idioms Related to Books and Reading

A closed book

Meaning: something or someone that is difficult to understand or mysterious.

• Quantum physics is a closed book to me.

• Although Mr Johnson is friendly, he’s a closed book emotionally.

An open book

Meaning: a very honest person whose thoughts and feelings are easy to understand.

• Sally is an open book — you always know what she’s thinking.

• My life is an open book; I have nothing to hide.

Be a bookend

Meaning: used to describe one of two similar people or things that appear at the beginning and end of something, often giving a sense of balance or symmetry.

• The twins stood at opposite ends of the ceremony, almost like bookends framing the whole event.

• In the project team, the two most experienced managers acted as bookends, supporting everyone in between.

Be on the same page

Meaning: to share the same understanding, agreement, or expectations about a situation.

• Before we go any further, let’s make sure we’re on the same page.

• They’re in love, but they still need to get on the same page financially before getting married.

Book of life

Meaning: a metaphor for all the experiences, mistakes, and lessons that shape a person over time.

• Failure, as much as success, fills the pages of the book of life.

• Her memoir feels less like a biography and more like a carefully written book of life.

Book of love

Meaning: something that expresses deep affection or romance.

• His letters to her felt like pages from a book of love.

• The album is a musical book of love and heartbreak.

Idioms related to books and reading

Book of memories

Meaning: something that holds cherished recollections.

• The photo album is a book of memories from their childhood.

• The yearbook became a book of memories for the class.

Book of Secrets

Meaning: a person or place full of hidden knowledge or mysteries.

• The old house felt like a book of secrets.

• Her diary was a private book of secrets.

Bookworm

Meaning: a person who loves reading.

• She’s a real bookworm — she reads everywhere.

• You’re such a bookworm; you practically live in the library.

By the book

Meaning: doing something strictly according to the rules, without bending or improvising.

• Our new manager likes everything done by the book, even the smallest details.

• When it comes to safety, pilots have no choice — they must follow procedures by the book.

Don’t judge a book by its cover

Meaning: appearances can be misleading, so you shouldn’t make assumptions too quickly.

• The café doesn’t look impressive from outside, but don’t judge a book by its cover — the food is excellent.

• He comes across as shy at first, but don’t judge a book by its cover.

Hit the books

Meaning: to study hard, often for an exam or important test.

• If you want to pass this exam, it’s time to hit the books.

• She barely went out last week — she spent most of her time hitting the books.

In someone’s good / bad books

Meaning: to be liked or disliked by someone.

• He’s in the boss’s good books after finishing early.

• She’s in her teacher’s bad books for missing deadlines.

Page-turner

Meaning: a very exciting or gripping book.

• The novel was a real page-turner.

• I couldn’t sleep — it was such a page-turner.

Read between the lines

Meaning: to understand hidden or implied meaning.

• You need to read between the lines in that email.

• She didn’t say it directly, but you can read between the lines.

Read someone like a book

Meaning: to understand someone very well.

• His mother can read him like a book.

• I can tell when you’re lying — I read you like a book.

Read the Riot Act

Meaning: to reprimand someone severely.

• The coach read the Riot Act after the loss.

• The manager read the Riot Act to the staff.

Take a leaf out of someone’s book

Meaning: to copy a good example.

• Take a leaf out of her book and plan ahead.

• You should take a leaf out of his book — he’s very disciplined.

Turn over a new leaf

Meaning: to start behaving better or differently.

• He’s turning over a new leaf this year.

• She decided to turn over a new leaf after the breakup.

Written in stone

Meaning: fixed and impossible to change.

• The rules aren’t written in stone.

• Your future isn’t written in stone.

Final Tip

These idioms are commonly used in everyday English and frequently appear in B2–C1 exams. Idioms are best learned in context, not as isolated definitions. Try to notice when native speakers use them — and don’t be afraid to practise them in your own writing and speaking.

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