to the letter
If you obey instructions or rules to the letter, you do exactly what you have been told to do, giving great attention to every detail:
I followed the instructions to the letter and it still went wrong.

[TahlilGaran] Advanced Learner's Dictionary ▲

to the letter
[slightly formal]
if you follow instructions or obey rules to the letter, you do exactly what you are told to do.
I followed the instructions to the letter but I still couldn't get it to work.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

to the letter
exactly, nothing done wrong or left undone, perfectly; precisely
The union representative followed the contract agreement to the letter.

The police officer always follows the law to the letter.

The lawyer always suggests that his clients follow the judge's decisions to the letter.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

to the letter
adv. phr. With nothing done wrong or left undone; exactly; precisely.
He carried out his orders to the letter.
When writing a test you should follow the instructions to the letter.
Compare: TO A T.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲