English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
Chapter and verse
Meaning
"Chapter and verse" is an idiom that means to quote someone or something word for word, or to remember something very carefully. It is often used when someone wants to demonstrate their knowledge of a text, such as a religious scripture or a piece of literature. The phrase comes from the practice of reading and citing specific passages from a book or other written work.
Usage
- I can quote chapter and verse from the Bible to support my argument about the importance of faith.
- As a historian, I often have to remember chapter and verse when researching historical events.
- My teacher always emphasized the importance of memorizing chapter and verse in order to succeed on exams.
- When discussing literature in class, we were expected to be able to quote chapter and verse from the book.
- I may not be familiar with all the details of a particular policy, but I can certainly quote chapter and verse when it comes to my responsibilities as an employee. The usage of "chapter and verse" can vary depending on the context. In some cases, it may be used more casually, while in others it may be used more formally or with greater precision. It can also be used to convey different levels of knowledge or understanding. For example, someone may use the phrase to demonstrate their ability to recite a poem word for word, while another person may use it to show that they have memorized important facts about a historical event.
Roots and History
The idiom "chapter and verse" has its roots in medieval literature and religion. In the Middle Ages, many people were illiterate and could not read or write themselves. As a result, religious texts were often recited from memory, rather than read aloud from a physical copy. In order to prove their knowledge of these texts, individuals would be asked to quote specific passages, known as "chapters," in order from beginning to end. Over time, the phrase became associated with more general memorization and recall, and its usage expanded beyond just religious texts.
Synonyms in English
- Word for word
- Verbatim
- Exact
- Precise
- Accurate
Synonyms in other languages
- Spanish: palabra por palabra (word for word)
- French: verbatim (exactly as spoken or written)
- German: genau (exactly)
- Italian: verbatim (exactly as spoken or written)
- Chinese: 字面字实 (verbatim)