written in stone

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

fixed, permanent, and incapable of being changed; usually used in the negative — not written in stone — to convey that plans, rules, or decisions remain open to revision and should not be treated as immutable; the image draws on the permanence of inscriptions carved into stone as opposed to notes written on paper or spoken aloud, which are easily erased or forgotten; the phrase is often used to reassure someone that flexibility remains possible