play by the book
play by the book
To act or operate in strict accordance with the rules or regulations. A noun or pronoun can be used between "play" and "by." If you're looking for someone to approve an exception, don't go to Ted—he always plays by the book. The film centers on a hard-boiled detective who refuses to play it by the book.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
References in periodicals archive
Learning Resources, a provider of educational toys, games and learning aids, announced on Monday that it has launched a new game called 'Play by the Book'.
Play by the Book has two levels of difficulty and is ideal for 2 to 6 players aged 8+.
M2 EQUITYBITES-January 27, 2015-Learning Resources introduces new book-based board game '
Play by the Book'
Ane the one time we would have sanctioned some rigging, they decide to
play by the book.
But whatever the future holds for the court, he says he won't let his own preferences color his reasoning: "I
play by the book."
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