by the numbers

See also: by-the-numbers

English

Alternative forms

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

See also
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