a coffee table book
meaning: a large, expensive book with a lot of pictures that is often kept on a table for people to look at
italiano: libro fotografico di grande formato
example: A coffee table book of Paris streets will be published next year. – Un grande libro fotografico di Parigi sarà pubblico il prossimo anno.
an open book
meaning: if a person’s life is an open book, you can discover everything about it because none of the details are kept secret
italiano: essere come un libro aperto
example: John wants to keep his private life private, he doesn’t want it becoming an open book. – John vuole mantenere privata la sua vita privata, non vuole diventare come un libro aperto.
little black book
meaning: a personal telephone directory listing girlfriends, or boyfriends
italiano: piccolo taccuino nero con i numeri di telefono di possibili fidanzate o fidanzati
example: Now that he’s engaged to Ellen, Tim won’t be needing his little black book. – Ora che è fidanzato con Elle, Tom non avrà bisogno del suo taccuino nero.
to book in
meaning: to register oneself for something, as at a hotel or some activity
italiano: accedere, registrarsi
example: We can’t book in to our hotel until noon. – Non possiamo registrarci nel nostro hotel fino a mezzogiorno.
every trick in the book
meaning: every way possible
italiano: tutti itrucchi del mestiere
example: He tried every trick in the book to get her to sign the contract. – Ha tentato ogni possibile trucco del mestiere per farle firmare il contratto.
one can’t judge a book by its cover
meaning: one can’t rely on outward appearances to know what something or someone is really like
italiano: non giudicare un libro dalla sua copertina
example: He seems very timid, but you can’t judge a book by its cover. – Lui sembra molto timido, ma non giudicare un libro dalla sua copertina.
to take a leaf/page from someone’s book
meaning: to do something in the way someone else would do it
italiano: ispirarsi a qualcuno, fare come qualcuno
example: I think I’m going to take a leaf from your book and start going for a run first thing in the morning. – Penso che prenderò esempio da te e inizierò ad andare a correre come prima cosa al mattino.
to throw the book at someone
meaning: to charge or convict someone with as many crimes as possible
italiano: incriminare, denunciare, sbattere dentro
example: I insulted the police officer, so he took me to the station and threw the book at me. – Ho insultato l’ufficiale di polizia, e così mi ha portato alla stazione di polizia e mi ha sbattuto dentro.
to close the books on someone or something
meaning: to declare that a matter concerning someone or something is finished
italiano: chiudere un capitolo
example: It’s time to close the books on Fred. He’s had enough time to find a solution. – è il momento di chiudere il capitolo con Fred. Ha avuto abbastanza tempo per cercare una soluzione.
that’s/there’s one for the books
meaning: something that you say when something strange or surprising happens
italiano: una giornata da ricordare!
example: Sarah stayed in on a Saturday night! There’s one for the books. – Sarah è rimasta a casa sabato sera! Questa è una giornata da ricordare!
to cook the books
meaning: to keep false financial records for an organization
italiano: truccare i conti
example: Soprano’s accountant cooks the books, I’m sure. – Il commercialista dei Soprano ha truccato i conti, ne sono sicuro.
to hit the books
meaning: to study hard
italiano: buttarsi sui libri, studiare duramente
example: I have to go home and hit the books. I have an exam next week. – Devo andare a casa e buttarmi sui libri. Ho un esame la prossima settimana.
Fill in the gaps with the words in the table.
| closed the books on | a page from your book | judge a book by its cover |
| open book | little black book | every trick in the book |
1 Mary took ……………… when she decided to wear that miniskirt.
2 Carla is seemingly loud and harsh, but she is a sweetheart. You can’t ………………. .
3 We tried ……………, but she didn’t let us in.
4 I burned my ……………… when I married you.
5 I ……………. him, I don’t wait for him to change any more.
6 My dad is an ………….. . He can’t hide his emotions.
Match each idiom to its definition.
| 1 | to hit the books | a | every way possible |
| 2 | every trick in the book | b | an unusual event |
| 3 | to book in | c | an expensive album |
| 4 | a coffee table book | d | to study hard |
| 5 | there’s one for the books | e | to charge someone with many crimes |
| 6 | to throw the book at someone | f | to register |
Key:
1-a page from your book, 2-judge a book by its cover, 3-every trick in the book, 4- little black book, 5-closed the books on, 6-open book
1-d, 2-a, 3-f, 4-c, 5-b, 6-e
