following the exact wording of the law
следовать точному тексту закона (sleduyat tochno tekstu zakona)
"He follows the letter of the law, not its spirit."
"Он следует букве закона, а не его духу." (On sleduet **bukve zakona**, a ne ego dukhu.)
very cowardly
to be unkind or without compassion
to betray or sacrifice someone to save yourself
to punish someone to warn others
to decline suddenly and dramatically
to buy something that is defective or worthless
