cast in concrete
1
6.7
- idiom
- The company's strategy was no longer flexible; it was now cast in concrete and could not be changed.
Examples
-
Edward DeBono advises us to use lateral thinking (as opposed to vertical or logical, linear thinking) as a way to overcome stances that have become cast in concrete.
Academic text (1992) -
Her ideas were cast in concrete, leaving no room for discussion or improvement.
-
Once the deadlines were set, the project guidelines became cast in concrete, making any adjustments impossible.
Synonyms
19
7.4
Very strict and impossible to change
12
4.8
Very strong and not easy to break or doubt
12
3.9
Not able to be changed
11
4.4
Very firm and cannot be changed or weakened
4
5.7
Fixed and not able to be changed
Antonyms
How Fixed
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'fixed and unchangeable' is directly derivable from combining 'cast' (to form by pouring into a mold) with 'in concrete' (embedded in a durable material): something cast in concrete is literally made permanent. This metaphorical extension is transparent and parallels common cross-linguistic expressions (e.g. 'set in stone'), so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words should be able to infer the intended meaning.
Etymology
Cast in concrete comes from building work: when you cast something in concrete, you pour wet concrete around it and let it harden so it stays the same. So, if a rule or plan is cast in concrete, it feels 'fixed' and 'not possible to change'.