by the numbers

by the numbers

See also: by-the-numbers

English

Alternative forms

• by-the-numbers

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 (AU)

  (file)

Prepositional phrase

by the numbers

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

Synonyms

• by the book

See also

• paint-by-numbers