Set in stone
Meaning
To be unalterably fixed and determined, leaving no room for change or revision.
Origin
Imagine the dusty, sun-baked landscapes of ancient civilizations, where the most vital decrees, laws, and treaties were not scribbled on perishable papyrus or whispered in fleeting words. Instead, they were painstakingly chiseled by skilled artisans onto colossal stone tablets, monuments, and temple walls. These inscriptions, like the legendary Code of Hammurabi, were an unmistakable declaration of permanence. The very act of carving into rock implied an unyielding authority and an immutable truth; once inscribed, a law was "set in stone," signifying it was final, binding, and beyond alteration, meant to endure for eternity. This powerful visual metaphor has transcended millennia, reminding us that some decisions, once made, are intended to be as lasting and unchangeable as granite itself.
Examples
- The deadline for submitting proposals is not set in stone, so we might be able to get an extension.
- Once the final blueprints are approved, the design will be set in stone, and construction can begin.