# textbook case

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/textbook-case
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A real-life case that matches a theory perfectly, a perfect example.

## Examples

- This is a textbook case of a bad cold.
- The doctor explained that the patient's symptoms were a textbook case of the flu.
- The sudden collapse of the company served as a textbook case of poor management and ignored warning signs.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.