to the letter | Idiomator

Meaning: (idiomatic)Literally,exactly, following the rules as written.You should follow what your boss saidto the letter. Otherwise, you'll lose your job.2011, Phil McNulty, “Euro 2012: Montenegro 2-2 England”, inBBC News‎[1]:Capello warned his players that caution was not an option as they went in search of the result that would take England to Euro 2012. And his message was carried outto the letterin the opening exchanges as England played with a tempo and threat Montenegro struggled to subdue.

Examples:

EN: "Follow what this letter tells you, to the letter."
ES: Sigue paso a paso lo que dice esta carta.
EN: - Our agents execute orders to the letter.
ES: Nuestros agentes ejecutan las órdenes al pie de la letra.
EN: And I must ask all of you to follow my orders to the letter.
ES: Y debo pedirles a todos que sigan mis órdenes al pie de la letra.
EN: -Exactly. Follow it out to the letter, Dorothy, while I'm sitting tight in the alimony jail.
ES: Síguelo al pie de la letra, Dorothy... mientras espero en la cárcel por no pagar una pensión alimenticia.
EN: He must wait. Whilst I'm in charge here, regulations- good, bad or indifferent- must be carried out to the letter!
ES: Mientras yo esté a cargo, la ley, buena o mala... se cumplirá al pie de la letra.
EN: But the law to the letter.
ES: Pero la cumplo al pie de la letra.
EN: What I've always demanded for others- the law, good or bad, but the law to the letter-
ES: Lo que siempre le exigí a los demás: la ley, buena o mala, debe cumplirse al pie de la letra--
EN: Yes, then I should be settled in irons if I didn't carry it out to the letter.
ES: Sí, entonces me tendrían que encadenar si no lo cumplía al pie de la letra.
EN: I shall see that it's carried out to the letter.
ES: Me ocuparé de que se cumpla al pie de la letra.
EN: I'll bet you that fifty thousand pounds you say your advice is worth... against an apology. And an honest handshake. That I can take your advice and follow it to the letter.
ES: Le daré las 50 mil Libras que dice usted que vale su consejo a cambio de que reconozca, estrechándome la mano, que soy capaz de seguir su consejo al pie de la letra.
EN: You carried out my prescription to the letter.
ES: Ha ganado.
EN: I carried out your instructions to the letter, professor.
ES: - Menuda caída, ¿eh, Moran?
EN: But can be accomplished successfully by perfect timing self-control, and following the schedule to the letter.
ES: Lo lograremos con coordinación autocontrol, y siguiendo el plan al dedillo.
EN: I'm afraid you'll have to admit Butch fulfilled his duty to the letter.
ES: Y reconoce que Butch cumplió su trabajo al dedillo.
EN: Now here are your instructions and I beg of you to follow them to the letter.
ES: Ahora, aquí están sus instrucciones, y le suplico que las siga al pie de la letra.

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