open books
Easy to read
People who are open books conceal nothing—their thoughts, feelings, and intentions are easily read.
The metaphor treats a person as a text available for anyone to examine: She's an open book; you always know exactly what she's thinking.
The phrase often carries approval, suggesting honesty or transparency, though it can also imply naivety or vulnerability.
- textWritten or printed words
- disclosureAct of revealing information
- honestyTruthfulness, sincerity
- truthfulnessHabit of not lying
- transparencyState of being see-through
glasnost · public record · accountability · clarity · face value · cover · integrity · paper · sincerity · candor · heart on sleeve · vulnerable · palimpsest · confession · expose · reveal · nonfiction · openness
- classroom commandssit down, stand up, raise hand, be quiet, listen
- reading artreading rooms, book illustrations, scripture reading, study rooms, letter reading
- cemeterygrave, headstone, headstones, graves, tombstone
- Disclosuresdisclosures, financial statements, annual reports, quarterly reports, earnings reports
- transparencyopenness, disclosure, clarity, honesty, candor
- book aestheticsbook covers, dust jackets, bookbinding, leather binding, typography
open booksenigmas
Inexplicable mysteries
mysteries · closed books · riddles · puzzles · ciphers
open booksclosed books
Unfathomable people or topics
sealed records · classified information · state secrets · black boxes · trade secrets
open bookssecrets
Concealed information
classified information · hidden depths · stone walls · poker faces