know like a book, to
know like a book
Also, know like the back of one's hand or know backwards and forwards. Be extremely familiar with or knowledgeable about; understand perfectly. For example, I know Greg like a book-I'm sure he'll come, or I know this town like the back of my hand, or John knew his part backwards and forwards. The first of these hyperbolic idioms, dating from the early 1800s, has a close cousin in read like a book, which means "to discern someone's intent," as in I can read Greg like a book; also see under open book. The second ( back of hand) dates only from the mid-1900s. Also see backwards and forwards, def. 2; inside out, def. 2; know all the answers.
See also: book, know, like
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
know like a book, to
To be very familiar or knowledgeable about something or someone. Presumably this expression, which dates from the early nineteenth century, alludes to a book one has read very carefully. Also see read someone like a book. A much newer synonym is to know like the back of one’s hand, where the allusion is obvious; it dates from the mid-1900s.
See also: know, like
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- I know
- know a trick or two
- a closed book
- closed book, a
- as we know it
- as you know
- know on which side your bread is buttered
- know which side (one's) bread is buttered (on)
- know which side bread is buttered on
- know all the angles