formal

the exact words of a law and not its more important general meaning.

There is always the danger that a judge may follow the letter of the law rather than its spirit.

• in name only
• in next to no time
• in no time
• in no uncertain terms
• in one ear and out the other
• in one fell swoop
• in one piece
• in one sitting
• in one stroke
• in on the ground floor
• in order
• in other words
• in over head
• in over your head
• in own right
• in perpetuity
• in person
• in place
• in pocket
• in point of fact
• in practice
• in prime
• in principle
• in print
• in progress