Books have the power to transport us to different worlds and spark our imagination. People have come up with many creative ways to describe the experience of reading or writing through idioms. These phrases help express feelings about books in a way that makes language more fun and engaging.
In this article, we will explore some popular idioms related to books. These idioms not only enrich our conversations but also help us better understand how people view reading and writing. Let’s dive into these fun expressions and discover their meanings!
Idioms for Books
1. As thick as a brick
Meaning: A book that is very thick or heavy.
Samples: This novel is as thick as a brick, but it’s full of exciting adventures. / That textbook is as thick as a brick; I’ll need a lot of time to read it.
To Put it Another Way: The book is really thick. / It’s a heavy read.
2. Read between the lines
Meaning: To understand a deeper meaning or hidden message in a book.
Samples: You have to read between the lines to understand what the author really meant. / The story was simple, but I had to read between the lines to get the main message.
To Put it Another Way: You need to find the hidden meaning. / It’s not just about the surface level.
3. A page-turner
Meaning: A book that is so interesting that you can’t stop reading it.
Samples: This mystery novel is a real page-turner; I couldn’t put it down! / That book is a page-turner; you won’t be able to stop reading.
To Put it Another Way: It’s a book that keeps you hooked. / It’s so interesting you won’t stop reading.
4. In the same book
Meaning: When people are on the same page or in agreement.
Samples: We’re not in the same book if you think we should cancel the meeting. / We need to make sure we’re in the same book before making a decision.
To Put it Another Way: We need to agree. / We need to be on the same page.
5. Bookworm
Meaning: A person who loves reading books.
Samples: Jenny is such a bookworm; she finishes a book every week! / My brother is a real bookworm; he reads non-stop.
To Put it Another Way: She loves reading. / He can’t stop reading books.
6. Don’t judge a book by its cover
Meaning: Don’t judge someone or something just by their appearance.
Samples: That movie may look boring, but don’t judge a book by its cover! / He might look serious, but don’t judge a book by its cover.
To Put it Another Way: Appearances can be misleading. / You can’t tell just by looking.
7. A closed book
Meaning: Something or someone that is hard to understand or know.
Samples: He’s a bit of a closed book, so I don’t really know what he’s thinking. / The book on that subject is a closed book for me.
To Put it Another Way: It’s hard to understand. / It’s a mystery.
8. Story of my life
Meaning: A phrase used to describe something that happens repeatedly or is typical for someone.
Samples: Missed the bus again story of my life! / I can’t believe I lost my keys, it’s the story of my life.
To Put it Another Way: This always happens to me. / It’s a familiar situation.
9. Open a new chapter
Meaning: To start something new or make a change in life.
Samples: After graduating, she’s ready to open a new chapter in her life. / Moving to a new city is like opening a new chapter.
To Put it Another Way: Begin something new. / Start a new phase.
10. Flip through the pages
Meaning: To look quickly through a book without reading every word.
Samples: I only had time to flip through the pages of the magazine. / He flipped through the pages of the book but didn’t actually read it.
To Put it Another Way: Skim through. / Browse quickly.
11. A whole new ball game
Meaning: A completely different situation or experience.
Samples: When she moved to a new school, it was a whole new ball game. / Starting college is a whole new ball game compared to high school.
To Put it Another Way: It’s a completely different experience. / This is a new challenge.
12. On the same page
Meaning: To agree or have the same understanding.
Samples: We need to be on the same page before we make the presentation. / I want us to be on the same page before the meeting.
To Put it Another Way: We need to agree. / We need to understand things the same way.
13. A different story
Meaning: A situation that is completely different from what was expected.
Samples: He said the first meeting was fine, but the second one was a different story. / That book was hard to get into at first, but the ending was a different story.
To Put it Another Way: That’s a whole different situation. / The ending was much better than expected.
14. Not my type
Meaning: Not something that suits or interests you, usually referring to books or movies.
Samples: I don’t like horror novels, they’re just not my type. / Science fiction is not my type of book, I prefer romance.
To Put it Another Way: It doesn’t suit my interests. / It’s not something I enjoy.
15. The plot thickens
Meaning: When a situation becomes more complicated or interesting.
Samples: Just when I thought I understood the story, the plot thickened with a big twist. / The plot thickens in the book as the mystery deepens.
To Put it Another Way: Things are getting more complicated. / The story is becoming more exciting.
16. A real page-turner
Meaning: A book that is so interesting, you keep turning the pages.
Samples: This mystery novel is a real page-turner; I couldn’t put it down! / The thriller was such a real page-turner that I finished it in one sitting.
To Put it Another Way: It’s an exciting book. / You can’t stop reading it.
17. Throw the book at someone
Meaning: To punish someone severely or blame them entirely.
Samples: The teacher decided to throw the book at him after his repeated misbehavior. / The judge threw the book at the criminal for his actions.
To Put it Another Way: To punish severely. / To blame completely.
18. An open book
Meaning: A person or thing that is easy to understand or figure out.
Samples: She’s an open book what you see is what you get. / That novel was an open book to me, I figured it out quickly.
To Put it Another Way: It’s easy to understand. / No mystery.
19. Bookmark your place
Meaning: To save your spot in a book, often to return to it later.
Samples: I used a bookmark to keep my place in the novel. / Don’t forget to bookmark your place so you can pick up where you left off.
To Put it Another Way: Save your spot. / Mark your location in the book.
20. Put a book down
Meaning: To stop reading a book, either temporarily or permanently.
Samples: I had to put the book down because I was too tired to read. / After a few chapters, I decided to put the book down it wasn’t that interesting.
To Put it Another Way: Stop reading the book. / Take a break from reading.
21. Chapter and verse
Meaning: Giving specific details or facts about something.
Samples: If you want to know more about the issue, he can give you chapter and verse. / She quoted chapter and verse from the novel during the discussion.
To Put it Another Way: Giving exact details. / Referring to specific parts.
22. The story of your life
Meaning: A phrase used to describe a recurring or typical situation.
Samples: I lost my wallet again the story of my life! / I’m late for work again, the story of my life.
To Put it Another Way: This always happens to me. / It’s the usual situation.
23. A book of lies
Meaning: A story or narrative that is full of untruths or exaggerations.
Samples: His excuse for being late sounded like a book of lies. / The news article was a book of lies, full of incorrect information.
To Put it Another Way: A collection of false stories. / A complete exaggeration.
24. All in the same book
Meaning: To be in agreement or have the same opinion.
Samples: We all have to be in the same book when it comes to decisions for the project. / Let’s make sure we’re all in the same book about how to handle this.
To Put it Another Way: We need to agree. / We need to be on the same page.
25. A bookworm
Meaning: A person who loves reading books.
Samples: Jenny is a total bookworm; she finishes a book every week. / I can’t believe how much time she spends reading she’s such a bookworm.
To Put it Another Way: Someone who loves reading. / A person who reads a lot.
26. A storybook ending
Meaning: A perfect or happy ending, often found in fairy tales.
Samples: They had a storybook ending to their wedding day. / The movie had a perfect, storybook ending.
To Put it Another Way: A perfect conclusion. / A happy ending.
27. The last chapter
Meaning: The final part or conclusion of something.
Samples: We’ve reached the last chapter of our journey. / I’m looking forward to the last chapter of this book.
To Put it Another Way: The end. / The final part.
28. Turn the page
Meaning: To move on from something and begin something new.
Samples: After the failure, it’s time to turn the page and start fresh. / Let’s turn the page on this chapter of our lives.
To Put it Another Way: Start something new. / Move forward.
29. Bookish
Meaning: A person who enjoys reading a lot.
Samples: She’s quite bookish, always reading something new. / He’s very bookish and spends most of his time at the library.
To Put it Another Way: Someone who loves reading. / A person who enjoys books.
30. Write the book on
Meaning: To be an expert in something or to know something well.
Samples: She wrote the book on how to succeed in business. / He’s written the book on how to improve your writing skills.
To Put it Another Way: Be an expert. / Know everything about something.
Find the Topics: Idioms for Books
Here is the short reading passage with idioms about books naturally woven into the story.
Find the Topics: “A Day at the Library”
On a sunny Saturday, Mia decided to spend her afternoon at the local library. She had heard a lot about the new section, which was full of books she had never read before. As soon as she entered, she felt like she had entered a whole new ball game there were so many interesting books to choose from! Mia was a bit of a bookworm, so the variety of books excited her.
Mia picked up a mystery novel that looked like a real page-turner. She sat at a cozy table and started reading. The story was good, but she had to read between the lines to fully understand the characters’ motivations. Suddenly, her friend Jenna joined her. “What’s that book about?” she asked. Mia smiled and replied, “It’s a closed book to me right now, but I’m getting into it.”
They started talking about their favorite genres, and Jenna admitted she wasn’t much of a mystery reader. “I think this is not my type,” she said, laughing. Mia nodded. “It’s okay. We all have different tastes. The library has something for everyone!”
The library’s atmosphere was peaceful, and it felt like the perfect place to open a new chapter in her reading habits. As they chatted, Mia realized that, unlike some of her old books, this one was definitely a book of lies full of twists and turns that kept her on the edge of her seat!
Your Task:
Can you find all the idioms about books used in the passage? Write them down or underline them in the text.
Answer Key
- A whole new ball game
- Bookworm
- A real page-turner
- Read between the lines
- A closed book
- Not my type
- Open a new chapter
- A book of lies
Conclusion
Books have the power to help us escape into new worlds and explore ideas that we may not encounter every day. Just like in the idioms we’ve discussed, books can offer endless opportunities for learning, growth, and adventure. The way we describe books and reading experiences through idioms makes conversations more colorful and meaningful.
Understanding these idioms can help you describe your favorite books in a more creative way. Whether you’re reading a real page-turner or simply looking to open a new chapter in your life, the idioms we use to talk about books bring them to life in a fun and engaging way. So, the next time you pick up a book, remember these idioms, and enjoy reading even more!
