0 directly, or in a way that makes it very clear what you mean: --
"Did he say he was unhappy with Anna?" "Well, not in so many words, but that was certainly the impression I got."
I told her, in so many words, to stop interfering.
1 directly: --
I have never lied to him in so many words.
We can complete it step by step however long the road is and it can't be completed however short the road is if you don't even mark your footprint.
We kunnen het stap voor stap voltooien, hoe lang de weg ook is en het kan niet worden voltooid, hoe kort de weg ook is, als je niet eens je voetafdruk markeert.