book burning
Any mass destruction, removal, or recalling of books, motion pictures, broadcasts, or electronic works as a form of censorship, especially motivated by religious or political objections to the material.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The regime ordered book burning to silence its critics.”
“After the revolution, angry crowds gathered in the square for book burning of everything written by the old rulers.”
“Historians now view that summer's widespread book burning not merely as vandalism, but as a calculated effort to erase an entire generation's dissenting voices from public memory.”
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are your ears burning
Asked of somebody who was not present but was the topic of discussion.
- 02
bad books
Disfavor.
- 03
balance the books
To add up all the debits and credits.
- 04
blot one's copy book
To damage one's own reputation through bad behavior.
- 05
book dumping
The practice of donating old used books that burden rather than assist communities.
- 06
book in
To check in (to a hotel).
- 07
burning question
An important and pertinent question that urgently requires an answer.
- 08
call someone every name in the book
To call someone many abusive names.
Last updated August 10, 2026