“Close the book” means to end or seal something. It can refer to ending a relationship or argument, keeping a secret, or moving on from an unpleasant past. It is an idiom that adds variety to language, but may be confusing for non-native speakers.
The idiom “close the book” can have a couple of different meanings, depending on how it’s used. In most cases, however, this phrase is used to mean “to put an end to” or “to seal something”. For example, a person may say they have decided to close the book on a relationship when he has decided to end the relationship. He can also use this phrase when he wants to seal an argument in secret. If so, the phrase often means that the parties involved will not share the information with anyone else; they might not even discuss it with each other once they’ve agreed to close the book on the subject.
A person may use a variety of different words and phrases to convey the same meaning. The fact that a person has many ways to express the same thought helps keep the language interesting. One of the phrases a person might use to keep his speech from sounding boring or monotonous is “close the book.” For example, a person might want a more colorful way to say “done” or “stop” and use “close the book” instead.
In many cases, the phrase is used in relation to something the speaker feels is unpleasant. For example, a person may decide to close the book on a problematic relationship. Similarly, a person might use this phrase in relation to an unpleasant time in their life. For example, if a person has spent several years struggling financially and then finally has more money and fewer bills, he may claim that he is closing the book on unpleasant pastimes as he moves towards a more promising future.
An individual could also use the phrase in reference to something they want to keep secret. For example, if one person shares a troubling matter with another person, they may decide they want to resolve the matter and thus ensure that no one else finds out. In that case, “closing the book” may mean hushing up the matter and then keeping it secret indefinitely.
It is important to note that deciphering idioms can be difficult for some people. Often, such phrases are well known in one region but virtually unknown in another. Thus, an individual who lives in an area where the term is not commonly used – or a person who is not a native English speaker – might become confused and believe it literally means closing a book.
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