A phrase used to emphasise the proper rules of a game. Hoyle was a past authority on the game of whist and his name is used in the title of many books of rules for cards games. Usage: With strict adherence to a set of rules; fairly and honorably: "We don't want to lose this case over any legal technicalities; everything must be done strictly according to Hoyle." Hoyle was the author of a book on the game of whist in the eighteenth century; his name has since been used in the titles of many books of rules for card games.