written in stone
Fixed beyond alteration
Written in stone describes something fixed and unchangeable, impossible to alter or revise.
The phrase alludes to ancient inscriptions carved into rock—permanent compared to ink on paper.
Usually appears in the negative: The schedule isn't written in stone, meaning adjustments are still possible.
Nothing is written in stone until the contract is signed.
Carved into a surface
- carvedCut to create form
- engravedCut into surface
- inscriptionText permanently marked
- graniteIgneous rock, quartz-rich
monolith · stele · epitaph · petroglyph · tablets · commandments · Rosetta · hieroglyphics
Incapable of being changed
- unalterableIncapable of being changed
- inflexibleUnable to bend
- setArrange in position
- unchangingNot varying at all
indelible · concrete · fossilized · rigid · steadfast · inviolable · sacrosanct · entrenched
Last and decisive
- bindingLegally or morally required
- absoluteTotal, without qualification
- conclusiveEnding all debate
- decisiveQuick to conclude
definitive · irreversible · settled · fixed · unappealable · decreed · sealed · done
etched
Carved into a surface
- carvedCut to create form
- engravedCut into surface
- inscriptionText permanently marked
granite · monolith · stele · epitaph · petroglyph · tablets · commandments · Rosetta · hieroglyphics · obelisk
immutable
Incapable of being changed
- unalterableIncapable of being changed
- inflexibleUnable to bend
- setArrange in position
unchanging · indelible · concrete · fossilized · rigid · steadfast · inviolable · sacrosanct · entrenched · hardened
final
Last and decisive
- bindingLegally or morally required
- absoluteTotal, without qualification
- conclusiveEnding all debate
decisive · definitive · irreversible · settled · fixed · unappealable · decreed · sealed · done · fated
- fatedestiny, fate, kismet, Moira, fated
- Book Idiomsby the book, closed book, open book, on the same page, same page
written in stonesubject to change
Liable to modification
changeable · alterable · flexible · mutable · revisable
written in stoneuncertain
Not firmly known
indefinite · undecided · uncommitted · conditional · contingent
written in stoneoff the cuff
Spontaneous, unrehearsed speech
informal · unofficial · casual · nonbinding · rough draft
write, written, stone, stones, stony, stonily, stoniness, stoned, stoning