by the numbers

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See also: by-the-numbers

English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

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[edit]

  • (file)

Prepositional phrase[edit]

by the numbers

  1. (idiomatic) exactly, precisely, or in a formulaic way.
    Synonyms: by the book, by numbers

See also[edit]