The goal of this show is to help you learn words and expressions in American English and also when to use them . Today , we continue talking about the word “book .” Books are so common that it is easy to take them for granted , or fail to appreciate them . But “book ” is a very useful word and is common to many expressions and idioms . Let's begin with “book ” used as a verb . “To book ” is a slang expression . Some experts say its earliest use was the 1970s . It means to leave -- often quickly . So , if someone says , “Can't talk now . I gotta (got to ) book !” it means they need to hurry to get somewhere . “Book ” is also a very useful verb for traveling . For example , you “book ” an airplane flight . That means you pay for a seat on a flight . You can also book a room at a hotel or a table at a restaurant . Several online dictionaries say this usage of “book ” began in 1841 . Of course , at that time people were not booking plane tickets but railway tickets . You can also book a musician or performer . That means to hire someone , usually for a special , one-time project . Some experts say this usage began in 1872 . People who are employed to book performers are sometimes called “bookers .” You do not want to confuse them with “bookies .” A bookie is a person who takes bets from gamblers . This is often an illegal activity . Another illegal activity involving books is called cooking the books . This may sound like making food , but it is not . Bookkeepers record the financial actions of businesses . They cook the books when they add false information . For example , people might lie about earnings so they pay less in taxes . They are cooking the books on their income . Can you guess what the police sometimes do to illegal bookies and those who get caught cooking the books ? They “book ” them ! In this case , “book ” means to officially charge someone with a crime . Producers have brought “Hawaii Five-O ” back to life . And , that brings us to some “book ” idioms . Let's say the booked bookie goes to trial . He hopes for a light punishment . But , instead , the judge throws the book at him . The judge gives him the most serious punishment possible . However , the judge must still do things by the book . She must honor the rules of the legal system . People who go by the book follow the rules . So , there are people who are by-the-book . And then there are people who are open books . If you are an open book , you are easy to know because you share or show your thoughts and emotions easily . American writer Willa Cather used the expression “open book ” in her novel “My Antonia .” She describes a Christmas morning in which a poor neighbor visits a family . “We persuaded our guest to stay for supper with us . He needed little urging . Ms . Cather wrote many books . But you don't have to write a book for people to say you've written a book . Let me explain . Saying that someone has written the book on something means they know a lot about a subject . They are an expert . For example , a friend of mine in college , wrote the book on pulling all-nighters . She was an expert at cramming a semester's worth of work into just a few nights . This same college friend also tried every trick in the book to get out of doing her work . When you try every trick in the book , it means you have tried everything possible to do something or to not do something . She would lie about being sick . She would even lie about attending the funeral of her great aunt's sister's husband ! When trying to get out of work , lying about the death of a distant relative is the oldest trick in the book . The oldest trick in the book is a trick that has been used many , many times and remains effective . Now , let's hear some of these expressions in a dialogue . "What are you doing ?" "Trying to fix my car . But I have tried every trick in the book and it just won't start !" "You should ask Elizabeth from apartment 3B for help ." "You mean young , beautiful Elizabeth ? Why would I ask her for help fixing my car ?" "Because she wrote the book on fixing cars . Her grandfather , father and four brothers are all mechanics ! She's been fixing cars since she was 15 years old !" "Wow , I guess I shouldn't judge a book by its cover ." "No , you shouldn't . Just because Elizabeth is young and beautiful you thought she could not fix a car . She's also a great D.J . I just booked her for a party I'm planning ." You know , I may have pre-judged Elizabeth . But I'm sure you have done the same . For example , what do you think about the guy who lives in apartment 4C ?" "The quiet accountant ? He never talks about himself . So I wouldn't call him an open book . But he's really nice and seems trustworthy ." "What would you say if I told you he got busted for cooking the books on a big investment scam ?" Are you serious ?!" "Yes , and it's not the first time he has been booked for this type of crime . So , the judge threw the book at him ! He'll be prison for at least seven years !" "Wow , you're right ! You really can't judge a book by its cover ." "Hey , your car started ! You don't need Elizabeth after all ." "Well , I'm still going to ask her for help and then ask her out to dinner ." "That is the oldest trick in the book . And like your old car , that old trick will most likely backfire . Join us again next week as we explore the origin and usage of common American English .