paint-by-numbers

adjective

1. formulaic; showing no original thought or creativity

Word History and Origins

Origin of paint-by-numbers¹

C20: from children's painting books in which the colours to be used are identified by numbers on the design to be painted

Example Sentences

In the living room, portraits of Willie Nelson and Hank Williams adorn the walls, alongside paint-by-numbers artworks, a cow skull and a Bennington flag he found in a Santa Fe, N.M., antique store.

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The league has a salary cap, as well as paint-by-numbers roster compliance rules that permit minimal flexibility on how its teams can spend money.

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Chauncey is the least of his problems, though, when what’s been structured around those moments feels like a paint-by-numbers exercise and not a true wade into terrifying waters.

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Like a paint-by-numbers canvas, each region of the E-map is assigned a number.

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There are a handful of scenes that play out with similar details, but whether by different performance choices, or the addition of one of those musical numbers, this largely avoids being a paint-by-numbers retelling.

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