English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
Cut and dried
Meaning
The idiom "cut and dried" means that something is final, settled, or complete. It can also imply that a situation has reached the stage of being no longer open to change or question.
Usage
- The court had ruled in favor of the defendant, so the case was cut and dried.
- She had made up her mind and there was nothing he could say to change it.
- We had planned everything down to the last detail, so we were ready for whatever happened.
- The meeting ended with no agreement, leaving the situation cut and dried.
- The company's financial reports were clear and straightforward, making their investment decision a cut and dried affair.
Roots and History
The origin of the idiom "cut and dried" is unclear, but it has been in use since at least the mid-19th century. One theory suggests that it comes from the way farmers would dry their fruit by cutting it into pieces and spreading it out to dry in the sun. Another theory relates the phrase to the way fish were once prepared for cooking by being cut into slices and allowed to dry on a wooden board before being fried.
Synonyms in English
- Finalized
- Resolved
- Concluded
- Determined
- Established
Synonyms in other languages
- French: terminer
- Spanish: acabar
- Italian: concludere
- German: abschließen
- Portuguese: terminaram