go by the book/do sth by the book
C2 to do something exactly as the rules tell you:
My lawyer always goes strictly by the book.
This is a private deal - we don't have to do everything by the book.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Morality and rules of behaviour
- antisocial
- bioethics
- claim
- conscience
- decency
- double standard
- liberty
- morality
- moralize
- morally
- norm
- object lesson
- social conscience
- social contract
- spirit
- the rights and wrongs idiom
- the ways of the world idiom
- value
- voice
- wrong
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Rules & laws
Obeying & breaking the law