Dictionary

set in stone en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) Permanent; certain; firm.
   • So what is it that makes SBB (Swiss national railways) tick? In my humble opinion, two things. Firstly, a comprehensive and set-in-stone integrated timetable (incorporating trains, ferries, cable cars and buses, including the world-famous yellow 'post-autos'), compiled four years in advance and which gets tested twice before it becomes operational. 2025 October 15, Vitali Vitaliev, “The recipe for Swiss bliss”, in RAIL, number 1046, page 68:
   • The decision won't be set in stone until we release the documents.

Synonyms

written in stone · carved in stone

Translations (11)

fr gravé dans le marbre (permanent) · ro bătut în cuie (permanent) · sv skrivet i stenet (permanent) · cmn 一成不變 /一成不变 (permanent) · et kivisse raiutud (permanent) · ur پتھر میں لکیر ... (permanent) · ca dat i beneït (permanent) · nl in steen gebeiteld (permanent) · de in Stein gemeißelt (permanent) · fi kiveen kirjoitettu (permanent) · hu kőbe vésve (permanent)

set in stone en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. (idiomatic, transitive) To render something permanent, certain, or firm.
   • The plan looks good, but don't set it in stone until we have discussed it a bit more.

Forms

Translations (9)

cmn 一成不变 (to make permanent) · ru увековечить в камне (to make permanent) · ja 石に設定する (to make permanent) · ja 石に置く (to make permanent) · ro bate în cuie (to make permanent) · hu kőbe vés (to make permanent) · fr graver dans le marbre (to make permanent) · ja 固定する (to make permanent) · nl in steen beitelen (to make permanent)