cut and dried
Meaning
Already decided, prepared, or settled in advance; not open to change or debate.
Origin
From a literal sense of herbs, cloth, or goods being “cut” and then “dried” to preserve them—finished, ready, and no longer needing further work; later generalized to plans or decisions.
Notes
Often implies something is rigid, predictable, or lacking creativity; can sound mildly negative. Used in speech and writing for plans, routines, answers, or procedures; be cautious when describing people’s work.
Examples
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The plan looked cut and dried on paper, but the rollout was messy.
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There’s no cut and dried answer to that question; it depends on the context.
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Our roles are cut and dried, so everyone knows exactly what to do.
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He prefers cut and dried procedures and gets uneasy with last-minute changes.
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The case seemed cut and dried until new evidence surfaced.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Used predicatively: “It’s cut and dried.” Also as an adjective before nouns: “a cut-and-dried plan/case/answer.” Hyphenate as a compound modifier; rarely inflects.
Synonyms
- set in stone
- prearranged
- predetermined
- clear-cut
- black-and-white
Antonyms
- up in the air
- open-ended
- unsettled
- flexible