BOOK

 BOOK

‘Book’ is a common term. But, it may mean several disparate things under different contexts. Quite interesting it is to note that this word is common with not-so common applications in the English language.

Book: a collection of essays on a single theme or a series of articles catering to varied interests like political, legal, medical and academic topics and may include jokes and tit-bits besides advertisements, so long as the term remains a ‘noun’.

BOOK: a collection of unused pages to write on –as in a Note book. On this occasion the item has no author or editor, as anyone can use it for writing.

Another form of book is “TICKET BOOK“ or “Cheque book” whose pages are detached  for use in a defined system  like train or bus for a pre-determined value or in  MEAL COUNTER of a hotel. Except the person[s] authorized none else can write or sign them.

BOOKS

A SPECIAL DOCUMENT RELATING TO Commercial activities of a firm or company or a business house or a trader. It is supposed to ‘document’ purchases, arrivals inward/ delivery outward and financial information on Income/ Expenditure. The upkeep of the record is ‘BOOK KEEPING’.

BY THE BOOK

The term means ‘as per rules or by stipulations of Law’, or by the rules of the game. Players who play the game or shots as per definition are said to play in ‘copy book style’.

 A CLOSED BOOK

The term refers to issues or events of which not much is known in public. The life of XXX was a closed book; it may also mean an eventful life of secrets.  Sometimes ‘closed book’ may also mean that some ideas or principles are not clearly understood. As for instance Mathematics is a closed book for me , much as English is for some people.

BE IN THE GOOD BOOKS / BAD BOOKS OF

The expression ‘good books’ is a reference to positive influence between persons or between a person and a firm. For instanc : He is in the Good Books of the Top leader [ He can be influential with the leader= can achieve support]  or He is in the ‘bad books’ of the leader     [His attempts to get some help are bound to fail].

ON THE BOOKS

The expression ‘on the books’ suggests that the idea or statement or information is recorded. So, later the person cannot retract if his/ her statement is on the book. ‘ON THE BOOKS’ is an idiom.

IN MY BOOK

The expression means ‘as stated by me in writing’ or in my opinion or contention

BRING TO BOOK

The expression suggests to ‘make people answerable before law or court’.

BOOKS

The term refers to the possibility of our indicating different titles like Medicine Astronomy, Agronomy, Literature, Fiction, Travelogue , History, Biography, Autobiography and so on.

Though a common and a simple term, ‘book’ as used in different formations may mean far different things and ideas; each of them has a definite implication.

Prof. K.Raman