Meaning:
If you do something by the numbers, you are doing it in a strict, mechanical way, without using your imagination or creativity.
Examples:
- I just never had the patience to go through it by the numbers.
- The search was by the numbers.
- We do it by the numbers.
- OK, people, let's keep this clean and by the numbers.
- We did everything by the numbers with the appraisal.
- One step at a time, by the numbers, like we practiced.
- I mean, we ided them by the numbers on their uniform.
- Oh, I don't do anything by the numbers.
- Maybe we do this by the numbers.
- Regional averages were weighted by the numbers of live births.