Meaning & Origin

“Set in stone” describes rules, dates, or decisions that are fixed — very unlikely to change. The image comes from carving words into stone, which is hard to reverse, so the message seems permanent.

Pronunciation Guide

• set — short “e,” like “set.”
• in — short and unstressed.
• stone — long “o,” rhymes with “loan.”
• Natural rhythm: SET in STONE.

Usage & Sentence Examples

Use it when asking whether something is final or stating that it cannot be changed.

• The syllabus isn’t set in stone; we can swap readings.
• House rules are set in stone for safety.
• Our travel dates aren’t set in stone yet.
• The lease terms are set in stone once you sign.
• Grandma’s recipes aren’t set in stone — add more herbs if you like.
• He treated the plan like it was set in stone, but it was only a draft.

Synonyms

fixed · final · nonnegotiable · locked in · carved in stone · definitive