Meanings
- idiomaticIn strict accordance with the rules, especially of card games; in the proper or expected manner.
This isn't a country where things are cut and dried, and done according to Hoyle.
1902, Gilbert Parker, chapter 11, in Donovan Pasha and Some People of Egypt3 more examples
When you're lost in the Wild, and you're scared as a child, / And Death looks you bang in the eye, / And you're sore as a boil, it's according to Hoyle / To cock your revolver and . . . die.
1912, Robert W. Service, “The Quitter”, in Rhymes of a Rolling StoneThe opening round of the Presidents' Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament went according to Hoyle.
2007 February 22, Phil Axelrod, “District Spotlight: PAC men's basketball follows form”, in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, retrieved 08 Aug 2008To be perfectly honest, I wasn't sure he was playing strictly according to Hoyle, but we'll leave it, since the poor chap's missing.
2013 December 25, Julian Fellowes, “The London Season”, in Downton Abbey, spoken by Terence Sampson (Patrick Kennedy)
Origin
Named after Edmond Hoyle (1672–1769), an early author on the subject of card gaming.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Danish efter alle kunstens regler
- efter alle kunstens reglerin strict accordance with the rules
French en bonne et due forme
- en bonne et due formein strict accordance with the rules
Cite this entry
according to Hoyle. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/according%20to%20Hoyle
“according to Hoyle.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/according%20to%20Hoyle. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “according to Hoyle,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/according%20to%20Hoyle.
Source: according to Hoyle on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.