英和和英

語源

1710, from herbs being cut and dried for sale, rather than fresh.

形容詞

cut and dried (not comparable)

1. Simple, straightforward, clear, or certain.

   Synonyms: clear cut, open-and-shut, res ipsa loquitur

   Take care when guessing, since problems do not always have cut-and-dried answers.

2. Decided, not open to change.

   Synonyms: set, settled

   • 1949, Arthur Miller, “Act Two”, in Death of a Salesman:

     Willy: […] In those days there was personality in it. There was respect, and comradeship, and gratitude in it. Today, it's all cut and dried, and there's no chance for bringing friendship to bear—or personality.

3. (obsolete) Lacking freshness or spontaneity.

使用する際の注意点

In formal usage, the form cut and dried is more common than cut and dry, and the meaning is rather “settled” than “clear”, and mildly pejorative, following original usage and etymology. Sense of “clear, straightforward” may be influenced by clear cut, which may be preferred.

Collocations

別の表記

• cut-and-dried (when modifying a noun),
• cut and dry (less common)

形容詞

cut and dried (not comparable)

1. (idiomatic) simple, straightforward, clear, or certain

   Take care when guessing, since problems do not always have cut-and-dried answers.

2. (idiomatic) decided, set, settled, not open to change
3. (idiomatic) (obsolete) lacking freshness or spontaneity

使用する際の注意点

In formal usage, the form cut and dried is more common than cut and dry, and the meaning is rather “settled” than “clear”, and mildly pejorative, following original usage and etymology. Sense of “clear, straightforward” may be influenced by clear cut, which may be preferred.

同意語

(clear, obvious):

• clear cut
• cut and dry
• open-and-shut
• res ipsa loquitur

参考

• all over but the shouting
• done deal

参照

• cut and dry / cut and dried, Paul Brians, Common Errors in English Usage (2nd Edition, November, 2008)
• Re: cut and dried, ESC, January 06, 2001, The Phrase Finder
• "Cut and dried" in Michael Quinion, Ballyhoo, Buckaroo, and Spuds, 2004.