A closed book 已经完结的事情/高深莫测的人或事物

"As far as I am concerned, that matter with the council¹ is a closed book"

"I have never been able to work or communicate with John. He is a closed book"

 

An open book 一目了然的人或事物

"Julia's life is like an open book. You always know what she's up to".

 

Read someone like a book 一眼看穿某人想法

"I can read Angela like a book. I always know what she's thinking and what she's about to say at meetings."

 

The oldest trick in the book 老套的把戏

"It was the oldest trick in the book - one man distracted² me while another stole my wallet. I can't believe I fell for it."

 

In someone's good/bad books 得到/失去某人的欢心

"Tommy has been on his best behaviour today. After yesterday's tantrums, he's been doing his best to be in my good books all day."

 

By the book 照章办事

"We're not going to leave things to chance.We're going to run this company by the book."

 

To bring someone to book 惩罚某人　

"I had to bring Tom to book after our meeting. He shouldn't have lost his temper³ at Bridget".

 

Take a leaf out of someone's book 以某人为榜样

"You should take a leaf out of Keith's book. He has achieved wonders with those children".

 

Don't judge a book by its cover 不要以貌取人

"When I first met Charlotte she had had a really tough two weeks and wasn't in the mood for chatting and appeared very moody⁴ and unsociable. She is not at all like that. One should never judge a book by its cover".

 

Cook the books 做假账

"It appears that Stanley had been cooking the books for years. He was finally caught last year."