know like a book

present singular third person knows like a book · participle present knowing like a book · past knew like a book · participle past known like a book

1. transitivesimileTo have an extensive and penetrating understanding of (something or someone).

   "Around here I know the shoreline like a book."

   2010, Bill Ratcliffe, Liz, →ISBN, page 24

   3 more examples

   "He's a bad man, that John Mason, and my advice to you and to every one, is to keep clear of him. I know him like a book."

   1851, T. S. Arthur, “That John Mason”, in Off-Hand Sketches

   "Olson can hide out around here until the snow flies if he wants to. He knows these woods—every steam and lake—like a book."

   1939 June 21, “Slayer Still Free in Woods”, in Leader Post, Saskatchewan, Canada, retrieved 18 Nov 2013, page 9

   "I played with the guy seven days a week; I knew him like a book."

   1998 March 22, Dave Anderson, “College Basketball: When Sherman White Threw It All Away”, in New York Times, retrieved 18 Nov 2013

   Synonyms: know inside and out, know like the back of one's hand