短语 to the letter 的意思是一字不差的严格执行或遵守规定。
- The soldier obeyed his commander's orders to the letter - and it cost him his life.
- I’ll give you my special cake recipe – but if you want it to turn out well, you must follow it to the letter. Don't change anything at all.
值得注意的是，The letter of the law 这个表达的意思是法律的条文，尤其是指其字面的意义。
- The judge's decision was criticised by the newspapers. They said he was too strict and had stuck to the letter of the law even though the criminal was very sorry.
