From what you tell me, he's by way of being the brains of the family..
Why they hesitated I never could tell, unless they did it by way of a joke.
I always go over the wall, by way of the plum tree, said Matilda.
... I'm not suggesting we do this, I'm suggesting it by way of example. Imagine that there is ...
... on your legs." Which is by way of asking you to consider the possibility that there are ...