You are an open book idiom origin

In the 18th century king george i and the government were fearful of being overthrown by supporters of the previous stuart dynasty. An open book phrase meaning, pronunciation and more by. It comes from a parable of jesus in the 5th chapter of the book of matthew. To book it, which has been recorded since the 1970s, is an abbreviation of the older bookitybook, to run fast, to move quickly. An open book definition and meaning collins english dictionary. A piece of cake meaning and origin know your phrase. Test your vocabulary with our fun image quizzes pyright1 pyright2 image credits. An open book idiom and phrase english aptitude questions. Definition of an open book in the idioms dictionary. Meaning of idiom to read someone like a book to be able to read someone like a book means to understand someone completely and to be able to discern their thoughts, emotions, character, motives, desires, etc.

To open a new document, click file and then click new. An open book phrase definition and synonyms macmillan. You cant judge a book by its cover phrase meaning, idiom. If you put live worms in a can, then seal it, how long will they live. If a person is an open book, it is easy to know what they think or how they feel about things. Rayman raving rabbids tv party d open book d youtube. An open book exam is a test that allows you to bring the text or material you have been studying.

Sometimes, the origin of popular sayings is not clear. Thus, i dont think the origin of this idiom comes from making a cake. When people use the saying, other side of the coin, they are referring to the opposite side or point of view of a situation. Indulge your adventurous spirit by exploring some associated extreme vocabulary. Definition of be an open book in the idioms dictionary. Open book definition of open book by merriamwebster. The origin of the idiom, look before you leap is by john heywood.

In order to stay healthy you must eat healthy foods. Jul 06, 2006 wordbook of australian idiom aussie slang. Click the desktop icon to open the cambridge advanced learners dictionary. Booking it has been slang for running away from trouble or a tight situation for as long as i remember. Proverbs a list of hundreds of the proverbs that give meaning to our language like no other form of expression. A second theory is that standard procedures for things are often written down in books and that doing something by the book meant you were following the instructions to a t and not inventing any bit of the process. The very language we use to describe the selfmade ideal has these fault lines embedded within it. An example of this can be found in the times from january 1833. You are not an open book i cant do nothing bout that but im worried, im overdrawn what am i doing up at the witching hour. But just because someone is an open book does not mean that he or she will or has to tell you everything. Nov 12, 1992 the book does a very good job of capturing the evolution of each of the idioms, a very good history is provided for each of the idioms. Open book definition and meaning collins english dictionary.

Origin related to the expression read someone like a book, variations of this idiom have been used since the mid1800s. From cambridge english corpus a 60 cm columnar vertical vortex pair is created by suddenly closing two long vertical flaps, as one would close an open book figure 2. These people are like an open book, ready to be read and studied. Open book meaning in the cambridge english dictionary.

When a cat gets out of the bag, it is out in the open, or revealed to the general public. A second theory is that standard procedures for things are often written down in books and that doing something by the book meant you were following the instructions to a t and not inventing any bit of the process in 1845, we can read in murders in. If someone is an open book, it is easy to know what they are thinking and feeling. Open definition, not closed or barred at the time, as a doorway by a door, a window by a sash, or a gateway by a gate. If crowds of more than 12 assembled, authorities could read them a portion. But thats a modern corruption of the phrases original meaning. When you open a book and read, its cracking the books. If you open a computer document or program, you make it ready to read or use. Learn the origins of the idiom heavens to betsy and why we know so little of it. There are more gates to open, more stiles to get over, something or other to hinder, and the distance we save we lose in the. Closed book meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. But, most of the idioms are outdated and the amount of stress upon each of the idioms is quite low i. Idiom definition is an expression in the usage of a language that is peculiar to itself either in having a meaning that cannot be derived from the conjoined meanings of its elements such as up in the air for undecided or in its grammatically atypical use of words such as give way. It means youll talk about anything and specifically answer any question honestly posed to you.

It is thought to have originated in the united states during the alcohol prohibition era and used the same way we do today being one of the many noncurses to express amazement. A phrase that is said when someone finds something heshe has been looking for. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom phrase as your answer. Learn about why we say other side of the coin and other idiom origins on our blog. Something or someone that can be readily examined or understood, as in his entire life is an open book. This idiom, meaning that a previously hidden secret has been disclosed, is also a metaphor.

Why the phrase pull yourself up by your bootstraps is. Why corporate executives talk about opening their kimonos. To book it, which has been recorded since the 1970s, is an abbreviation of the older bookity book, to run fast, to move quickly. Yes, its not exactly hard, but i wouldnt say it is easy either. Heres a list of similar words from our thesaurus that you can use instead. If a fisherman buys some bait in a can, it is already an open can. What is the origin of the slang term book meaning leave or hurry. When there is a fire and you are trapped, you have to break open the windows in order to escape. The short road i have always found is in the end the longest. The desire to push the boundaries has been a motivator in many a daring expedition, testing the human spirit and physical abilities to the utmost. If the can tips over, the worms spill out, but thats not what opening a can of worms means. The first edition of the morris dictionary of word and phrase origins detailed the fascinating and little known stories behind thousands of words and phrases that we use every day. To pull yourself up by your bootstraps is to succeed by dint of your own efforts.

Open book definition in the cambridge english dictionary. Not when you understand the phrases that were born in the usa. This may sound at first that all you will need to do is look up the answer the day of the testand thus a. It is typically figurative and usually is not understandable based solely on the words within the phrase. What is the origin of the idiom with open arms answers. What is the origin of the phrase book it, as in move.

Pour flour into a bowl, crack open some eggs, add everything together and mix it. This use of book is definitely earlier than the 1990s. We had to runand try to get the doors open, then book it out of there. Nov 02, 2014 why corporate executives talk about opening their kimonos. A closed book a something you accept has completely ended as far as i am concerned, that matter with the council is a closed book b someone or something that is difficult to understand i have never been able to work or communicate with john. Author christine ammer tells nprs renee montagne that idioms are added to the book based on. Each entry defines an idiom, uses it in a sentence, then pinpoints its historical origins when possible.

Please tell us where you read or heard it including the quote, if possible. Noun a decomposition of a 3manifold into a link and a fibration over the circle by surfaces bounded by that link. Definition of an open book from the collins english dictionary. An open book test teaches students how to find information when they need it. An open book definition and meaning collins english. Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples log in dictionary. In this new edition, william and mary morris update and expand their classic work to keep pace with our ever changing language. Code switch the phrase has become a term of art in business jargon, used anytime a company discloses insider information. Jan 22, 2014 if you put live worms in a can, then seal it, how long will they live.

Dictionary of idioms and their origins by linda flavell. In 1947, it was the number one song on billboard s honor roll of hits and became a runaway pop sensation. If that happens, what you ll usually see on the phrases page are theories that talk about where it may have come from. An open book definition of an open book by merriamwebster. The phrase thesaurus is a writers resource that stimulates ideas for headlines, copy, song lyrics, fiction writing etc. This verb, which is echoic of the sound of shoes slapping on the ground, goes back at least to the 1930s, when one fin. However, after a friend cut a slice for me to eat, i learned that you shouldnt judge a book by its cover. Learn the full meaning of the idiom to open a can of worms and get examples of use in sentences as well as the origin of the expression. Animal metacognition is still an open book with untold interesting questions and methodologies to be discovered. Open book definition, someone or something easily understood or interpreted. Its time to break open the liquor bottles so that the party can truly begin. It used to describe a quixotic attempt to achieve an impossibility, not a feat of self. Saying that you are an open book indicates that you have nothing to hide, generally attempting to gain someones trust. To avoid drowning, peter broke open the windows of the car after the car plummeted into the river.

Open the door, richard began as a black vaudeville routine. In the following question, four alternatives are given for the idiomphrase printed in bold in the sentence. People like lara are usually comfortable talking about themselves. See related idioms crossreferenced by theme or word. A prior understanding of its usage is usually necessary.

An idiom is a phrase that is common to a certain population. Used in the phrase my life is an open book, in the 1990s i saw it online many times in personal profiles when a person was saying they are a student. The cat is the secret, and the bag is the thing hiding it. My whole life has been an open book, said the actor, but now i want to settle down to a quiet life of my choosing. Meaning of idiom an open book an open book is someone or something that is easy to understand or interpret. Two posters on ask metafilter date it to the 1960s. And where have you looked for the origin of the idiom. Oct 11, 2007 what exactly does the phrase im an open book mean. Ive always thought it meant that you re ready to talk about yourself, thoughts, feelings, etc. Decisions shouldnt be made primarily on appearance. If your friend lara is an open book, you know that you can ask her almost anything, personal or not. But someone else told me that they thought it meant that you re open to new things or being changed, like you re open to being written. The phrase open your eyes might be said by someone to a person who is foolishly not paying attention to the risk or danger of their situation. This metaphoric expression is often expanded to read someone like an open book, meaning to discern someones thoughts.