# cut and dried

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/cut-and-dried
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Simple, straightforward, clear, or certain.

## Examples

- The answer was cut and dried.
- The rules for this board game are cut and dried.
- The doctor says the recovery timeline is cut and dried.
- The contract terms were cut and dried, so we signed it quickly.
- The manager explained that the promotion process is not cut and dried because it depends on many different performance factors.
- I thought my weekend plans were cut and dried until my boss asked me to work an extra shift on Saturday.
- Even though the instructions seem cut and dried, many students still struggle to assemble the model correctly on their first try.
- What seemed like a cut and dried case grew complicated when new evidence emerged, forcing the lawyers to rethink their strategy entirely.

## Origin

First appearing c. 1643, the phrase derives from the commercial preparation of herbs. Unlike fresh plants, which remained in their natural state, these were cut and dried before being offered for sale. The term recorded the transition of the botanical from a growing thing to a finished, preserved commodity ready for the market.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.