This blog post introduces you to some common idioms related to reading. Even kids can easily understand these phrases, their meanings, and see how they are used in sentences!
Read/Reading Idioms
Here are 20 read/reading idioms in English with meaning and example sentence for each.
Hit the books
Meaning: Start studying hard
Example: I need to hit the books tonight for my test.
Read between the lines
Meaning: Find the hidden meaning
Example: You have to read between the lines to understand his letter.
Bookworm
Meaning: Someone who loves to read
Example: She’s a real bookworm; always has a novel in hand.
Open book
Meaning: Someone who is easy to understand
Example: He’s an open book, very straightforward with his feelings.
By the book
Meaning: According to the rules
Example: She does everything by the book and never cuts corners.
In my book
Meaning: In my opinion
Example: In my book, that’s the best film this year.
Read the room
Meaning: Understand the situation by observing
Example: He failed to read the room and told a joke that offended people.
Take a leaf out of someone’s book
Meaning: Copy what someone else does
Example: I decided to take a leaf out of her book and wake up early for yoga.
Read someone like a book
Meaning: Understand someone easily
Example: I can read him like a book; he’s clearly upset.
Bookish
Meaning: Interested in reading or studying
Example: He’s been bookish since childhood, always in libraries.
Turn the page
Meaning: Move on from a situation
Example: It’s time to turn the page and forget the past.
On the same page
Meaning: Agreeing with someone
Example: Finally, we’re on the same page about the project’s goals.
Cookbook approach
Meaning: A methodical, recipe-like way
Example: She used a cookbook approach to solve the problem.
Read up on
Meaning: Research a topic
Example: I need to read up on the history of Rome before our trip.
Close the book on
Meaning: End something
Example: Let’s close the book on this argument; we’re going nowhere.
Throw the book at someone
Meaning: Punish severely
Example: They’re going to throw the book at him for breaking the law.
Bring someone to book
Meaning: Hold someone accountable
Example: It’s time to bring him to book for his errors.
Readily available
Meaning: Easily obtainable
Example: The information was readily available online.
Read oneself to sleep
Meaning: Fall asleep while reading
Example: He often reads himself to sleep with a good book.
Book smart
Meaning: Knowledgeable from books, not practical
Example: She’s book smart but lacks common sense.
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