instruction
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Related to instruction: Direct instruction
couldn't pour water out of a boot if the instructions were on the heel
(Someone) is utterly incompetent or stupid; (someone) can't even manage or carry out the simplest of tasks. A: "Did you hear that Zack took the train home last night and left his car in the parking garage at work?" B: "I'm not surprised. That dummy couldn't pour water out of a boot if the instructions were on the heel!" The leaders of this country couldn't pour water out of a boot if the instructions were on the heel. What makes you think they can overhaul the entire tax code? That fool couldn't pour water out of a boot if the instructions were on the heel! What a dolt!
couldn't pour water out of a boot with the instructions on the heel
(Someone) is utterly incompetent or stupid; (someone) can't even manage or carry out the simplest of tasks. A: "Did you hear that Zack took the train home last night and left his car in the parking garage at work?" B: "I'm not surprised. That dummy couldn't pour water out of a boot with the instructions on the heel!" The leaders of this country couldn't pour water out of a boot with the instructions on the heel. What makes you think they can overhaul the entire tax code? That fool couldn't pour water out of a boot with the instructions on the heel! What a dolt!
follow instructions to the letter
To follow a set of instructions exactly as they were written or described. If you don't follow the instructions to the letter, your application won't be considered. A good soldier must be able to follow instructions to the letter. Otherwise, they could put their entire unit in danger. We're working with acid here, so for everyone's safety, you need to follow the instructions of the experiment to the letter.
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