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open-and-shut

[oh-puhn-uhn-shuht] / ˈoʊ pən ənˈʃʌt /


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.

That made this an open-and-shut case, except nothing’s ever that way with Musk.

From Slate • Jun. 5, 2026

Our reviewer, Steven Poole, wrote that “the book proceeds like a convoluted murder mystery, introducing one suspect after another in what seems like an open-and-shut case, before puncturing the promising narrative with an inconvenient fact.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025

The saddest of operas, “Ainadamar” is not a tragic opera, not an opera of open-and-shut endings, but one of open-ended endings.

From Los Angeles Times • May 9, 2025

This is not an open-and-shut case despite how many people would like to believe it is.

From Salon • May 15, 2024

We felt like the case was open-and-shut, but then one day, after a month or so, we got a call that he’d made bail.

From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah




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