dead letter
noun
MAIL 信件
countable
■a letter that cannot be delivered to the address written on it and cannot be returned to the person who sent it 死信，无法投递的信件•the dead-letter office死信处理办公室
noun
LAW/AGREEMENT 法律／协议
countable usually singular
■a law or agreement which is no longer effective 已失效的法律；形同虚设的协议；空文•The ceasefire treaty was a dead letter as soon as it was signed, as neither side ever had any intention of keeping to it.由于双方缺乏遵守的诚意，停火协定一经签署，就成了废纸一张。 |