English idiom · neutral · spoken & written · BrE & AmE

an open book: meaning and examples

an open book means a person whose thoughts and feelings are easy to understand.

Memory hook: Build a clear mental picture from “an open book” and connect it to this meaning: a person whose thoughts and feelings are easy to understand.

How to use “an open book”

Common mistake: Treat “an open book” as a fixed expression. Notice its exact word order in the examples.

Learn it in context

This expression belongs to Lesson 11, where you can compare it with other idioms about character and practise it interactively.

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