按圖索驥 [ㄢˋ ㄊㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄐㄧˋ; an4 tu2 suo3 ji4] lit. looking for a fine horse using only a picture (idiom) fig. to do things along rigid, conventional lines to try and find sth with the help of a clue ◄ ►