Like a book

Thoroughly, accurately.

1829.  You talk like a book, Mr. Bond; but after all, &c.—Mass. Spy, Jan. 28.

1833.  [She] sang like a nightingale, and talked like a book.—James Hall, ‘Legends of the West,’ p. 181 (Phila.).

1833.  An educated and travelled Yankee—cold, supercilious and stiff—standing like the statue of man before the loveliest of God’s creatures, and talking like a book, even to his washerwoman.—John Neal, ‘The Down-Easters,’ i. p. 26.

1839.  “Know him like a book,” replied Mr. Lummucks.—Charles F. Briggs, ‘Harry Franco,’ i. 73.

1841.  Democrats, he knew, would vote for [the Pre-emption bill] like a book.—Mr. Reynolds of Illinois, House of Repr., Feb. 5: Congressional Globe, p. 148.

1843.  Jim made ’em go like a book.—Knick. Mag., xxi. 116.

1845.  I knows the Curloos like a book, and I’ll be dadfetcht if ther was a sign of a Curloo in that buggy.—W. T. Thompson, ‘Chronicles of Pineville,’ p. 74 (Phila.).

1847.  

1848.  At the signal by the head Committee-man, (who “knew Jemmy Polk, jes like a book!”) another shout went up for the President of the United States.—Durivage and Burnham, ‘Stray Subjects,’ p. 178.

1850.  Haow much?—spit it aout—don’t be afeard—you did it jes’ like a book, old feller.—Frontier Guardian, Feb. 6: from the American Union.

1853.  “I’m over head and ears in love with Juliet Trevor—Trapp & Trevor—W. I. Goods, wholesale. You know the firm?” “Like a book.”—Durivage, ‘Life Scenes,’ p. 295.

1855.  He’s got a sight of l’arning, knows everything, and talks jist like a book.—W. G. Simms, ‘Border Beagles,’ p. 190 (N.Y.).

1856.  Well, Uncle Ebbin, you know Harrison like a book.—Knick. Mag., xlvii. 271 (March).

1857.  I know her and her husband like a book.—Id., xlix. 42 (Jan.).

1858.  You talk like a book about opus pecunia, and all that.—Id., lii. 214 (Aug.).

1860.  ‘Can you describe the bride’s dress?’ ‘Like a book,’ said I, with first-class confidence.—Id., lvi. 164 (Aug.).