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What Does "in My Book" Mean?
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
When a person uses the phrase "in my book," he usually means from his perspective. For example, a person may say that a flavor of ice cream is the best in his book. This means that in his opinion, that particular flavor is the best. The phrase "in my book" is an idiom, which means it is used figuratively rather than literally. In regions in which this idiom is commonly used, most people understand what it means immediately upon hearing it.
An individual could use any manner of ways to indicate his opinion about something. He could, for example, simply begin his statement with the words "in my opinion." He could also start his statement by saying the words "I think." Often, however, a person uses the phrase "in my book" to make his point. It essentially means the person who is speaking is expressing something from his own unique perspective. He is stating his opinion rather than speaking about something that is actually in a physical book.
The phrase "in my book" and phrases that are used in similar ways are called idioms. An idiom is a common phrase that is used to figuratively express a thought, feeling or fact. Unlike other phrases, they are not meant to be translated literally. This can prove confusing for a person who lives in a region in which the idiom is not commonly used. When a person lives in a region in which it is commonly used, however, he will typically understand what the phrase means without a lot of thought or analysis.
If a person is unfamiliar with this idiom, he may find an example or two helpful for deciphering its meaning. A person may consider an example in which one party is asked his opinion of another person's character. In answering the question, a person may say something like, "In my book, he is reliable and trustworthy." This means the opinion of the speaker is that the subject of the phrase is both reliable and trustworthy.
Another example of the use of this phrase is a situation in which a person is asked to give his opinion on the best places to visit while on vacation. When he gives his opinion, he may state that he has heard of a few places that are good for vacationing, but then say something along the lines of, "But in my book, Grand Cayman is the best place for a relaxing yet fun vacation."
Nicole Madison
Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a LanguageHumanities writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.
Learn more...
Nicole Madison
Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a LanguageHumanities writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.
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![Woman standing behind a stack of books]()
Woman standing behind a stack of books
Discussion Comments
"In my book" is a fine idiom, in my book. "Book" is quicker to write and say than "opinion," and its meaning is commonly known in the U.S.
@SkyWhisperer - It’s hard to tell actually where many idioms come from. But your theory sounds as good as anything else I’ve come across. I prefer to use the term “in my opinion” because it’s less ambiguous.
Also, let’s face it. While we are a literate society, I think on balance we do less writing than we used to do. So the phrase “in my book” sounds a bit anachronistic, like it’s a throwback to another era.
It’s an interesting article. I wish I knew where the expression “in my book” came from however.
What is the book in question? I realize it’s not meant to be literal but it does have an etymology. I suggest that it hearkens back to the times when we all kept diaries or journals on scrolls or things like that.
What we wrote in the diary was considered sacred, at least to us. If we said something, it was good. That meant it reflected our gut convictions and way of looking upon the world. Perhaps that’s where the phrase came from. Our book was our perspective. That’s my theory anyway.
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