Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - rule book

(rule books) 1. A rule book is a book containing the official rules for a particular game, job, or organization. ...one of the most serious offences mentioned in the Party rule book. N-COUNT 2. If you say that someone is doing something by the rule book, you mean that they are doing it in the normal, accepted way. This was not the time to take risks; he knew he should play it by the rule book. N-COUNT: the N