letter perfect

letter perfect

Correct in every detail; verbatim. The term comes from the nineteenth-century stage, in which actors were told to memorize their parts precisely to the letter of every word. It probably evolved from an earlier expression, to the letter, which had very much the same meaning. “I will obey you to the letter,” wrote Byron (Sardanapalus, 1821).
See also: letter, perfect
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • more (to it) than meets the eye
  • you (can) bet your (sweet) life)
  • get into the swing of (things), to
  • level best, to do one's
  • go(ing) to town
  • up to scratch, (to come/be)
  • like a ton of bricks, (come down)
  • ask a silly/stupid question (and you'll get a silly/stupid answer)
  • chock-a-block, to be
  • dressed to kill/to the nines
References in periodicals archive
Duncan's partner of 15 years is the sane and self-aware Annie (Byrne, letter perfect), heard in voice-over as she walks through town bemoaning her fate.
'Juliet, Naked' review: Ethan Hawke turns up the charm
I am shore your pleased two no it's letter perfect in its weigh.
SPELL CHEQUER MUST BEE WRITE
"In the recent May issue," Bill notes, "I liked Richard Lederer's article '"Letter Perfect, but I have a question.
Kickshaws November 2015
"It was a whole day of filming and Jim was letter perfect on take one.
Creating a 'Big Bang' on Hollywood Blvd.: deftly switching between theater and smallscreen, Jim Parsons gets his star
An extensive background in songwriting and production, Hale's letter perfect musical ear, with Eshe's rich vocal styling and lyrical expression is made harmonious with Mabanua's culturally diverse creative energy as a power player of multi-cultural rhythms and wide ranged ability to add unique distinction to a composition.
Arrested Development's Eshe Releases New Single "So Gone"
Mum is so fussy, she likes neat and tidy handwriting, being a teacher, and wants every letter perfect!
I'M IN SHOW HEAVEN
LETTER PERFECT Tracy Reese beaded pink frock, $458, L.
The letter: fashion sends a message from the '50s
A few years ago, supraspinatus (a rotator cuff muscle) got translated as "fish banana." Today, the software transcribes all kinds of medical terminology letter perfect, doctors said.
Artificial intelligence replaces manpower worldwide
* MATT MONRO: THE SINGER'S SINGER by Michele Monro (Titan, pounds 17.99, hb) A SINGER once said "his pitch was right on the nose: his word enunciation letter perfect: his understanding of a song thorough.
Review:
/I've run this poem threw it /I'm shore yore pleased to no /It's letter perfect in it's weigh, /My chequer tolled me sew.
Mistakes are being made too often; VOICE OF THE NORTH
randomly type on it at the will would reprint letter perfect at some
dot dis:
I'mshore your pleased two no Its letter perfect awl the weigh.
OPINION: So many hurdles to overcome in taking such short steps in life; The pensioner
Jarvis's performance is letter perfect: he changes voices, remains in character, and gallops this winner straight across the finish line.
Francis, Dick. Under orders
Implementation of the transaction must be letter perfect. If the implementation is deficient or sloppy, the CRA will have a stronger argument that the transaction was legally ineffective and was implemented for the primary purpose of obtaining a tax benefit.
Interpretation and application of the GAAR post-Canada Trustco and Mathew
Aside from the fact that this is a fairly somber affair, something that comes with the territory when you're listening to cello music, the performances and sound are almost letter perfect.
Tchaikovsky: Rococo Variations, etc