cut and dried

/ˌkʌt ən ˈdraɪd/
adjective
  1. Already decided or arranged in a way that cannot be changed; not open to discussion or new ideas.
    • The judge's decision seemed cut-and-dried, but the lawyer asked for a review.
    • The company's policy on refunds is cut-and-dried, so there's no point arguing.
    • We thought the plan was cut-and-dried, but then new problems came up.
  2. Simple and clear; not complicated or uncertain.
    • The answer to the math problem was cut-and-dried, so everyone got it right.
    • The instructions for the game are cut-and-dried, so even beginners can play.
    • Choosing a restaurant for the party was not cut-and-dried because everyone had different tastes.
  3. Lacking freshness, originality, or excitement; dull and predictable.
    • Her writing style is a bit cut-and-dried, with no surprises or creativity.
    • The movie followed a cut-and-dried formula, so I guessed the ending early.
    • The lecture was so cut-and-dried that half the students fell asleep.
What does "cut and dried" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean