an open-and-shut case

an open-and-shut case

A legal case that is clear-cut or straightforward. With all the evidence against the defendant, I expect this to be an open-and-shut case.
See also: case
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

open-and-shut case

a simple and straightforward situation without complications. (Often said of criminal cases where the evidence is convincing.) The murder trial was an open-and-shut case. The defendant was caught with the murder weapon. Bob's death was an open-and-shut case of suicide. He left a suicide note.
See also: case
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

an ˌopen-and-shut ˈcase

(of a legal case, crime, etc.) so clear or simple that it can be dealt with or solved very easily and quickly: It’s an open-and-shut case. His fingerprints were on the gun and he can’t prove where he was that night.
See also: case
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • open-and-shut case
  • make a case that
  • in case
  • have a case on
  • have a case on (someone)
  • meet the case
  • be on (one's) case
  • be on somebody's case
  • be on someone's case
  • make a case for (something)
References in periodicals archive
Summary: New Delhi [India], Dec 24 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday said Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prashad's conviction in the fodder scam, an open-and-shut case of "brazen corruption", didn't come as a surprise.
New Delhi [India], Dec 24 ( ANI ): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday said Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prashad's conviction in the fodder scam, an open-and-shut case of "brazen corruption", didn't come as a surprise.
"Lalu Prasad's conviction surprises no one in this country because the fodder scam is an open-and-shut case of brazen corruption carried out in defrauding the public exchequer.
BJP says fodder scam, a case of 'brazen corruption'
One would think this would be an open-and-shut case of proper gun use under Louisiana law, which allows deadly use of force in defense of others to "prevent a violent or forcible felony involving danger to life or great bodily harm," but several items are clouding the issue.
Aid given may not be legal
The justices, however, did not take to the idea that this was an open-and-shut case of a woman's right to control her body, and Phillips was grilled at length.
Winnipeg glue-sniffing mother
Regulations section 1.132-7 (a) (2) seemed to make this an open-and-shut case in the employers' favor.
Free meals for employees - how much can employer deduct?