English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
Black book
Meaning
The idiom "black book" refers to a list of people who are considered untrustworthy, dishonest or disreputable. It is usually used to refer to a group of individuals who have been known to cause trouble for someone.
Usage
- The boss kept a black book of all his employees who he didn't trust.
- When the new CEO came in, she immediately started reading the company's black book to see who needed to be let go.
- I forgot to bring my driver's license and now I'm on the traffic cop's black book.
- The police department keeps a black book of all known criminals in the area.
- The whistleblower handed over a black book of all the corrupt officials in the company. The usage of "black book" can vary depending on the context. It can refer to a list of people who are considered untrustworthy, dishonest or disreputable by an individual or group. It can also refer to a group of individuals who have been known to cause trouble for someone.
Roots and History
The earliest known use of "black book" dates back to the 19th century in England. The term comes from a book of names kept by the British parliament of those deemed untrustworthy or disreputable. Over time, the term has evolved to refer to any group of individuals who are considered untrustworthy or disreputable.
Synonyms in English
- Blacklist
- Red list
- Rogue's gallery
- Infamous list
- Dishonest list
Synonyms in other languages
- La lista negra (Spanish) - a list of names of people who are considered untrustworthy or disreputable.
- Le livre noir (French) - a book of names of people who are considered untrustworthy or disreputable.
- Il nègre (Portuguese) - a list of names of people who are considered untrustworthy or disreputable.
- La lista negra (Italian) - a list of names of people who are considered untrustworthy or disreputable.
- El reloj de los muertos (Japanese) - a black book that contains the names of those who have died.