by the bookOBEYexactly according to rules or instructions 一丝不苟地按照规定 She feels she has to go by the book and can’t use her creativity. 她觉得她只能照章办事,发挥不了自己的创造力。
do/play something by the book The police were careful to do everything by the book. 警方很小心,一切都照章办事。
do/play something by the book• He plays it by the book.• I do it by the book.• They play it by the book - their book not mine.
→ by the book at book1(2)