by-the-book
Following every regulation
By-the-book means strictly following official rules, procedures, or established methods: a by-the-book investigation, He's a by-the-book cop.
The phrase often implies rigidity or lack of creativity, sometimes admiringly (thorough, proper) and sometimes critically (inflexible, unimaginative).
She did everything by the book and still got fired.
Following long-held customs
- orthodoxConforming to established belief
- conservativeCautious about altering customs
- standardLevel of quality accepted
- establishedFormally set up
mainstream · conformist · normative · expected · typical · proper · customary · accepted
Unable to bend
- inflexibleUnable to bend
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
- unbendingRefusing to change position
- uncompromisingRefusing to yield ground
literal · exact · precise · adherence · stickler · punctilious · meticulous · scrupulous
Permitted by statute
- legitimateConforming to accepted standards
- compliantYielding to others' wishes
- authorizedGiven official permission
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
statute · code · enforcement · licensed · proper · above-board · sanctioned · permissible
Following ordered procedures
- methodicalOrganized and deliberate
- step-by-stepIn sequential stages
- protocolPrescribed conduct rules
- checklistItemized verification guide
procedure · guideline · manual · regulation · instruction · standardized · sequential · orderly
Able to be foreseen
- formulaicFollowing a set template
- uninspiredLacking creative spark
- uncreativeLacking originality or invention
- pedestrianOne traveling afoot
mundane · plodding · literal · derivative · rote · mechanical · robotic · dull
traditional
Following long-held customs
- orthodoxConforming to established belief
- conservativeCautious about altering customs
- standardLevel of quality accepted
established · mainstream · conformist · normative · expected · typical · proper · customary · accepted · approved
rigid
Unable to bend
- inflexibleUnable to bend
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
- unbendingRefusing to change position
uncompromising · literal · exact · precise · adherence · stickler · punctilious · meticulous · scrupulous · stringent
lawful
Permitted by statute
- legitimateConforming to accepted standards
- compliantYielding to others' wishes
- authorizedGiven official permission
regulation · statute · code · enforcement · licensed · proper · above-board · sanctioned · permissible · contractual
systematic
Following ordered procedures
- methodicalOrganized and deliberate
- step-by-stepIn sequential stages
- protocolPrescribed conduct rules
checklist · procedure · guideline · manual · regulation · instruction · standardized · sequential · orderly · structured
predictable
Able to be foreseen
- formulaicFollowing a set template
- uninspiredLacking creative spark
- uncreativeLacking originality or invention
pedestrian · mundane · plodding · literal · derivative · rote · mechanical · robotic · dull · stale
- rigid thinkingrigid, dogmatic, doctrinaire, rule-bound, absolutist
- conformityconformity, conforming, conform, conformist, conformism
- strictsevere, stern, harsh, rigid, firm
by-the-bookrule-breaking
Disregarding established standards
lawless · rogue · unorthodox · unconventional · illicit
by-the-bookflexible
Able to bend freely
freewheeling · loose · informal · relaxed · easygoing
by-the-bookimprovised
Created without prior planning
improvisational · spontaneous · off-the-cuff · extemporaneous · unscripted
book, books, notebook, booked, textbook, booking, bookish, handbook, booklet