setting in stone
Making absolutely permanent
Setting in stone means making something permanent and unchangeable.
The phrase comes from the idea that words carved into stone cannot be erased or altered.
Plans, decisions, or agreements that are set in stone are finalized and not open to revision: Nothing is set in stone yet—we can still make changes.
Often used in the negative to indicate flexibility remains.
- finalizeSettle decisively
- irrevocableCannot be undone
- no turning backCommitment beyond reversal
- unalterableIncapable of being changed
- cast in concreteImpossible to change
signed and sealed · monolith · carve · confirm · engrave · immutable · chisel · cement · codify · final answer · fixed · indelible · granite · ratify · marble · sculpt · conclude · commit
setting in stonekeeping options open
Preserving future choices
subject to change · up in the air · playing it by ear · going with the flow · winging it
setting in stonehedging
Noncommittal maneuvering
wavering · waffling · equivocating · sitting on the fence · dithering
stone, sets, setter, setters, setting, settings, resets, resetting, stones