by-numbers

by-numbers

adj
informal done in an uninspired, simplistic, or formulaic way
[C20: from painting by numbers, a method of painting a picture in which the colours to be used are indicated by numbers]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
References in periodicals archive
With youth - and they're still only 25 and 22 - comes lashings of enthusiasm and an insatiable desire to push sonic frontiers and develop new ideas with the most exciting new artists without compromising their music by following the by-numbers dance music in the charts.
Once more co-written by Luc Besson and directed by the returning Olivier Megaton, Taken 3 is an increasingly explosive by-numbers thriller.
music business said: "There's Mona Lisa there is a by-numbers version." sins committed the sacred "charidee".
42 (12A) WHILE Rush (see above left) is the real Oscar deal, this holier-thanthou Issue Movie is a by-numbers love letter to awards committees.
42 128mins 12A WHILE Rush is the real Oscar deal, this holier-than-thou issue movie is a by-numbers love letter to awards committees.
The Possession is a by-numbers exorcism thriller, about a girl who takes a box home that is possessed by something nastier than Simon Cowell.
Loncraine's helming is brisk and efficient, if somewhat anonymous, but this reps a definite improvement on his last, the by-numbers thriller "Firewall." Craft contributions are pro without showiness, highlighted by a thoughtfully chosen soundtrack of period tunes, supervised by Steve Lindsey.
Half-an- hour of comedy- by-numbers which quickly turned into a game of spot the next gag - "How we gonna frighten ghosts off?"
The by-numbers plot includes difficulties for the youngsters fitting into their new school,clashes with the snooty neighbours and marital strife.
For the most part this is a by-numbers, one-on-one beat'em up.
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