| No. | Item | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | a closed book | hard to understand or know |
| 2. | a dog-eared copy | well-worn from use |
| 3. | a new chapter | a fresh stage in life |
| 4. | a slip of the tongue | an accidental remark |
| 5. | a well-thumbed book | often handled; much used |
| 6. | actions speak louder | deeds matter more than words |
| 7. | an open book | easy to understand; transparent |
| 8. | at a loss for words | unable to speak |
| 9. | balance the books | make accounts match |
| 10. | beat around the bush | avoid the main point |
| 11. | beside the point | irrelevant |
| 12. | between the covers | inside a book |
| 13. | bite your tongue | stop yourself from speaking |
| 14. | book it | leave quickly |
| 15. | book smart | good at academic learning |
| 16. | by the book | according to rules |
| 17. | can’t put it down | too engaging to stop |
| 18. | case in point | a clear example |
| 19. | cat got your tongue? | why are you silent? |
| 20. | change one’s tune | speak differently now |
| 21. | close the book on | end something for good |
| 22. | cook the books | falsify financial records |
| 23. | cover to cover | from beginning to end |
| 24. | crack a book | open and start studying |
| 25. | cut a long story short | end by summarizing |
| 26. | dog-eared | worn from frequent reading |
| 27. | dot the i’s and cross the t’s | be very thorough |
| 28. | down in black and white | clearly written down |
| 29. | eat your words | admit you were wrong |
| 30. | fine print | hidden or small details |
| 31. | from cover to cover | completely; all the way through |
| 32. | get the gist | understand the main idea |
| 33. | get to the point | speak directly |
| 34. | go on record | state publicly |
| 35. | have the last word | get final say |
| 36. | hit the books | study hard |
| 37. | hold your tongue | stay silent |
| 38. | in a nutshell | briefly summarized |
| 39. | in black and white | clearly written or definite |
| 40. | in other words | said differently |
| 41. | in plain English | in simple language |
| 42. | in so many words | explicitly; plainly |
| 43. | in someone’s bad books | out of favor |
| 44. | in someone’s good books | in someone’s favor |
| 45. | judge a book by its cover | judge by appearance alone |
| 46. | keep the books | maintain financial records |
| 47. | long story short | briefly; in summary |
| 48. | lost in a good book | deeply absorbed in reading |
| 49. | lost in thought | thinking deeply; distracted |
| 50. | make a point | state something important |
| 51. | mince words | speak too carefully |
| 52. | mind your language | avoid rude words |
| 53. | miss the point | fail to understand |
| 54. | nothing to write home about | not very impressive |
| 55. | off the record | not for public reporting |
| 56. | on paper | in theory; documented |
| 57. | on the same page | in agreement; aligned |
| 58. | open a new chapter | begin a new phase |
| 59. | page-turner | very exciting book or story |
| 60. | plot thickens | the situation grows more complex |
| 61. | point of no return | stage where reversal is impossible |
| 62. | point taken | I understand your argument |
| 63. | prove a point | demonstrate correctness |
| 64. | put in a nutshell | summarize briefly |
| 65. | put it in writing | record it formally |
| 66. | put pen to paper | begin writing |
| 67. | put words in someone’s mouth | attribute false statements |
| 68. | read between the lines | infer a hidden meaning |
| 69. | read into | find extra meaning |
| 70. | read my lips | listen carefully; no debate |
| 71. | read someone like a book | understand someone easily |
| 72. | read someone the riot act | scold severely |
| 73. | read the fine print | check details carefully |
| 74. | read the room | sense the mood |
| 75. | read the writing on the wall | see what will happen |
| 76. | read up on | study to learn more |
| 77. | set the record straight | correct misinformation |
| 78. | short and sweet | brief and pleasant |
| 79. | sign on the dotted line | agree formally in writing |
| 80. | speak of the devil | the person appears unexpectedly |
| 81. | spell it out | explain very clearly |
| 82. | stick to your guns | maintain your position |
| 83. | take a leaf out of | copy a good example |
| 84. | take pen in hand | start writing |
| 85. | take the words out of my mouth | say what I was thinking |
| 86. | the last word | final say or authority |
| 87. | the pen is mightier | words beat force |
| 88. | the writing on the wall | a clear sign of trouble |
| 89. | throw the book at | punish as harshly as possible |
| 90. | thumb through | flip through quickly |
| 91. | turn over a new leaf | start fresh; reform |
| 92. | turn the page | move on from the past |
| 93. | under one’s belt | achieved; gained experience |
| 94. | watch your mouth | speak more politely |
| 95. | word for word | exactly as said |
| 96. | words fail me | can’t express it |
| 97. | write home about | worth mentioning proudly |
| 98. | write it off | accept as lost |
| 99. | write off | dismiss as a loss |
| 100. | write oneself into a corner | create an impossible situation |
