Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
Play by the numbers.
English answer:
set specific (numeric) goals
Added to glossary by
Rolf Keiser
Aug 20, 2009 12:08
15 yrs ago
English term
United Kingdom
Medical Translation - over 12 years
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, English
Play by the numbers.
English
Bus/Financial
Business/Commerce (general)
Training document
I encountered the instruction "Play by the numbers" during a US to UK localistion project. It is used in a section on project planning. I haven't come across that expression being used in the UK. Full context:
"Play by the numbers. Work with the team to set up quantitative measurements for progress at the beginning of a project. Post the numbers in a public place, check them yourself on a regular basis and encourage others to do the same. Match the numbers and the people. ...". Can anyone suggest a UK English alternative? Thanks, John
"Play by the numbers. Work with the team to set up quantitative measurements for progress at the beginning of a project. Post the numbers in a public place, check them yourself on a regular basis and encourage others to do the same. Match the numbers and the people. ...". Can anyone suggest a UK English alternative? Thanks, John
Change log
Sep 3, 2009 07:14: Rolf Keiser Created KOG entry
Responses
+6
1 hr
Rolf Keiser
Switzerland
Switzerland
Native in English
&
English
Works in field
Switzerland
Translate complexity through simplicity
Native in: English (Variants: British, US) 
, German (Variants: Swiss, Germany)
Works in: German to English, English to German, English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
8
Selected
set specific (numeric) goals
quantify your goals and/or set "timelines", i.e. timing of a given project from start to finish
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
9 mins
Yasutomo Kanazawa
Japan
Japan
Specializes in field
Japan
Scientia est potentia
Native in: Japanese
Works in: English to Japanese, German to Japanese, Italian to Japanese, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
31
don't get out of line/be a team player
I don't know if the above suggestions are UK expressions, but
Play by the numbers means to follow the rules exactly, or another similar expression is play by the book.
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/by the numbers
Play by the numbers means to follow the rules exactly, or another similar expression is play by the book.
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/by the numbers
+1
21 hrs
Set S.M.A.R.T. goals
SMART is the acronym usually used in the UK.
Objectives should be Specific, Measurable, Acheivable, Realistic and Timely.
Playing by the numbers is an 'everyman' equivalent.
Objectives should be Specific, Measurable, Acheivable, Realistic and Timely.
Playing by the numbers is an 'everyman' equivalent.
Example sentence:
Set SMART goals.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Katalin Horváth McClure
: Yes, if the target audience is familiar with this business lingo, this is definitely a good solution. (It may require explanation for other audiences.)
18 hrs
|
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