the.com/letter of the law
Obeying the rulebook's words while mugging its spirit in broad daylight.
means Following the exact, literal wording of a rule rather than its underlying intent or purpose.
from A phrase built from the old contrast between 'letter' (the literal written text) and 'spirit' (the inner intent) — a pairing that runs through centuries of religious and legal writing, including biblical language about the letter versus the spirit of the law. Over time 'letter of the law' settled into English as shorthand for strict, literal compliance, while 'spirit of the law' kept the meaning and purpose behind it.
- opposite of
- spirit of the law
- favorite habitat
- contracts, tax codes, loopholes
- classic move
- malicious compliance, technically correct
- origin
- Bible, 2 Corinthians, letter versus spirit