THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE
Every trick in the book
Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.
01 / UNDERSTAND
Meaning in plain English
Every possible method of achieving something.
02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT
The expression in a sentence
- We tried every trick in the book to get the old printer working.
03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Quick idiom quiz
Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.
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Can you recall the expression?
Complete the example using the expression from this lesson.
We tried ________ to get the old printer working.
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Every trick in the book — Every possible method of achieving something.
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Make it yours
Write one sentence using “Every trick in the book” about your own life.
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Does your sentence match this meaning?
Every possible method of achieving something.
Compare: We tried every trick in the book to get the old printer working.
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More ways to understand and use it
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When to use it
Use this conversational expression to emphasise how many methods someone has tried. The context determines whether those methods are clever, ordinary or dishonest.
More examples in context
- The seller used every trick in the book to keep us interested.
- She knows every trick in the book for packing a small suitcase.
Usage note
Common verbs include “try”, “use” and “know”. “Every” is usually exaggeration: no actual book is required, and “trick” does not always imply cheating.
A short conversation
A: Did you manage to remove the stain?
B: No. I tried every trick in the book.
A: Perhaps the cleaner can help.
One more practice question
If someone tried every trick in the book to solve a puzzle, what did they do?
A. Used all the methods they could think of.
B. Refused to try any methods.
Check your answer
A. The phrase emphasises a wide range of attempted methods.
Related lessons
Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.