etched in stone

etched in stone

Permanently fixed or firmly established; not subject to any amendment or alteration. Often used in the negative. The deal isn't yet etched in stone, but we're confident it will go ahead as hoped.
See also: etch, stone
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • cast in stone
  • in stone, cast/carved/written
  • engraved in stone
  • cement
  • concrete
  • be cast in cement
  • be cast in concrete
  • be set in cement
  • cast in concrete
  • in cement
References in periodicals archive
That is what Etched in Stone: Archeological Discoveries that Prove the Bible is all about.
ISLAMABAD -- An accountability court (AC) of Islamabad Wednesday said the statement recorded by Joint Investigation Team's head Wajid Zia was not etched in stone as it would decide its admissibility after completion of the recoding of testimony in the Avenfield property reference.
The Statue HE'S a statue, etched in stone, With so much detail right down to the structure of his bones, He holds some scales in one hand, In his other a map of the land On his face there is a wry smile, That will stand the test of time, Is he serious or is he sarcastic?
But the memory of her father lives on - etched in stone.
pheasant's etched in stone. But there I go again, dreaming of home,
The likes of Gareth Edwards, Sir Wilson Whineray, John Eales, Dr Danie Craven, and William Webb Ellis himself, have already had their names etched in stone at the sport's spiritual home.
The founder of Etched In Stone Waterjet Fabrications, Inc., (EIS) of South Hackensack, NJ, and of Professional Women in Construction's New Jersey chapter, PWC-NJ, Norma Tempel is carving a name for herself in the industry.
AS THEY were finishing at the Curragh, they were turning for home in the 3m handicap hurdle at Hexham, with Boris The Blade holding a healthy advantage from favourite Etched In Stone, who was still a good ten lengths down jumping the last.
ETCHED IN STONE is a 'list' horse running at Hexham tomorrow, assuming the meeting survives likely stormy weather.
While nothing is etched in stone, here's a look at potential candidates.
Tony Dobbin moved on to 61 for the season with wins, gained in contrasting fashion, on Etched In Stone and Armaguedon at Newcastle yesterday.
Etched In Stone was then transferred to Richards and made his debut when making all in a bumper at Perth in May, crossing the line two-and-ahalf-lengths ahead of Rossclare.
Webb asked, "And that is what you are advising other chaplains to do if it does become etched in stone?"
There is a slow but steady realization across the country that the misalignment of hospital and physician incentives as etched in stone by the diagnostic related groups (DRG) payment system, has bred three decades of adversarial relationships that have taken a toll on health care quality.
* The Vietnam survivors that saw their buddies die in combat finally got the chance to run their hands across and feel their names etched in stone. They were given the opportunity to cry and, in a sense, feel a little less of the hurt that never goes away.