close the books
To finalize the financial records for a specific accounting period; to cease trading.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“We close the books at the end of every month.”
“The accountant needs to close the books before we can calculate the final profit for the year.”
“After decades of declining sales and mounting debt, the board of directors finally decided to close the books on the company's operations.”
- 01
bad books
Disfavor.
- 02
balance the books
To add up all the debits and credits.
- 03
blot one's copy book
To damage one's own reputation through bad behavior.
- 04
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.
- 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
call someone every name in the book
To call someone many abusive names.
- 08
close enough for government work
Adequate; acceptable as government work, imperfect but not worth the time nor effort of improving.
Last updated August 10, 2026