cut-and-dried
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
If the grey belt had been defined in a legally watertight way… then it would have been cut and dried and you could have built a lot of houses, but they didn't do that.
From BBC • Oct. 20, 2025
Doctors say that real-life pregnancy complications are rarely so cut and dried.
From Salon • Dec. 5, 2023
Radiology can be subjective — not as subjective as, say, art criticism, but not cut and dried.
From New York Times • Aug. 2, 2023
Louis criminologist David Klinger said decisions on whether to intervene in a police colleague’s actions are not always cut and dried.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 30, 2023
“Life isn’t so cut and dried as you like to make it, Moose. You have to use your head.”
From "Al Capone Does My Shirts" by Gennifer Choldenko
