know like a book

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Idioms and Phrases

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 .

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April 23, 2024inveterate

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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