take a leaf out of (one's) book

take a leaf out of (one's) book

To do something in the way someone else would do it; to behave or act like someone else. I think I'm going to take a leaf out of your book and start going for a run first thing in the morning.See also: book, leaf, of, out, take

take a leaf out of someone's book

 and take a page from someone's bookFig. to behave or to do something in a way that someone else would. When you act like that, you're taking a leaf out of your sister's book, and I don't like it! You had better do it your way. Don't take a leaf out of my book. I don't do it well.See also: book, leaf, of, out, take

take a leaf out of someone's book

Imitate or follow someone's example, as in Harriet took a leaf out of her mother's book and began to keep track of how much money she was spending on food . This idiom alludes to tearing a page from a book. [c. 1800] See also: book, leaf, of, out, take

take a leaf out of someone's book

or

take a leaf from someone's book

COMMON If you take a leaf out of someone's book or take a leaf from their book, you copy them, usually because they were successful when they acted in that way. Note: The `leaf' in the last two expressions is a page of a book. Hollywood celebs should take a leaf out of Michael Douglas's book and make sure their websites are interesting and attractive. You're working too hard. Take a leaf from my book and relax!See also: book, leaf, of, out, take

take a leaf out of someone's book

closely imitate or emulate someone in a particular way. 1999 London Student Maybe the other colleges should take a leaf out of Imperial's book and try pub games instead of sports. See also: book, leaf, of, out, take

take a leaf out of somebody’s ˈbook

follow somebody’s example because you admire them and their way of doing something: If you’re having difficulty with the children, take a leaf out of Sandra’s book. She knows how to control them. Leaf is an old word for a page.See also: book, leaf, of, out, take