be in someone's good books
/biː ɪn ˈsʌmwʌnz ɡʊd bʊks/
Meaning
To 'be in someone's good books' means to be in favor with them, usually because you have done something helpful, kind, or pleasing. It is a casual and slightly playful expression often used in workplace and family contexts to describe someone's approval.
Examples
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I helped my boss organize the presentation, so I'm in her good books this week.
I helped my boss organize the presentation, so I'm in her good books this week.
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He bought his wife some flowers just to make sure he stays in her good books.
He bought his wife some flowers just to make sure he stays in her good books.
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Clean up the kitchen if you want to be in your roommate's good books.
Clean up the kitchen if you want to be in your roommate's good books.
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I think I'm in my teacher's good books because I always hand in my homework early.
I think I'm in my teacher's good books because I always hand in my homework early.
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She did extra chores all weekend to get back in her parents' good books.
She did extra chores all weekend to get back in her parents' good books.
Common Mistakes
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✗ I am in the good book of my manager.
✓ I am in my manager's good books.
The idiom is always plural ('books') and typically uses a possessive determiner (e.g., 'my manager's', 'his', 'her') rather than 'of'.
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✗ He did it to enter her good books.
✓ He did it to get in her good books.
Use verbs like 'be in', 'get into', or 'stay in' rather than 'enter'.
Related Expressions
Practice
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I need to do something nice to get back in my sister's ___.
💡 in her favor or approval
Show answer
good books
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Ever since I washed his car, I've been in his ___.
💡 well-liked or approved of by him
Show answer
good books