by the numbers

See also: by-the-numbers

English

Alternative forms

• by-the-numbers (as adjective)

Etymology

The origin of this phrase goes back to the American Revolutionary War where a book containing numbered positions for rifle and bayonet practice was used to train soldiers. In the book, each diagram was numbered.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

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Prepositional phrase

by the numbers

1. (idiomatic) exactly, precisely, or in a formulaic way.

   Synonyms: by the book, by numbers

See also

• paint-by-numbers