English idiom

set something in stone

Register · Neutral CEFR B2

Post

Figurative meaning

to make something fixed and impossible to change

Why this phrase?

From carving words into stone; figuratively means permanently fixed.

Example

“The schedule isn't set in stone, so we can still adjust it.”

Dictionary details

Alternate forms

set in tablets of stone

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

easier said than done

Something that sounds simple to do but is actually hard.

every which way

in every direction, often in a scattered or disorderly way

for the time being

temporarily, until circumstances change

go downhill

to become progressively worse in condition, quality, or performance

go with the flow

To adjust calmly to circumstances or prevailing behavior instead of resisting them.

a whole new ball game

A completely different situation from before.

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

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