take a leaf out of someone's book

Register · Neutral Neutral — appropriate in most situations, both spoken and written, without sounding too casual or too stiff. CEFR B2

Post

Example

“I took a leaf out of Maya's book and began planning my meals on Sundays.”

Dictionary details

Component words

take leaf book

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

don't judge a book by its cover Neutral · CEFR B1

appearances can be misleading, so assess things properly

hit the books Informal · CEFR B1

to study hard, especially before an exam

take it or leave it Neutral · CEFR B1

accept an offer exactly as presented or reject it entirely

by the book Neutral · CEFR B2

strictly following the rules or official procedures

take liberties Neutral · CEFR B2

behave with more freedom or authority than is acceptable, often without permission

take the piss Informal · CEFR B2

to mock someone, often through teasing or sarcasm

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

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