the letter of the law
US /ðə ˌlet.ər əv ðə ˈlɑː/
UK /ðə ˌlet.ər əv ðə ˈlɑː/
1.
法律条文, 法律的字面意义
the literal interpretation of a law or rule, rather than its spirit or intention
:
•
He followed the letter of the law, but not its spirit, by technically fulfilling the contract without truly helping the client.
他遵循了法律条文，但没有遵循其精神，通过技术上履行合同而没有真正帮助客户。
•
Sometimes, applying the letter of the law can lead to unfair outcomes.
有时，严格遵守法律条文可能会导致不公平的结果。