stone (redirected from engraved in stone)

be carved/set in stone

if an arrangement, a plan, or a rule is set in stone, it is completely fixed so that it cannot be changed. The rules aren't set in stone; they can be altered to suit changing circumstances. (usually negative) These are just a few ideas to be discussed - nothing is carved in stone.

See also: carve, set

get blood out of a stone

if making someone give or tell you something is like getting blood out of a stone, it is very difficult. Collecting the rent money from him each month is like getting blood out of a stone. I tried to talk to her, but I may as well have tried to get blood out of a stone.

See also: blood

have a heart of stone

to be cruel and have no sympathy for people. He wouldn't help his own mother if she needed it - he's got a heart of stone.

See also: heart

kill two birds with one stone

to manage to do two things at the same time instead of just one, because it is convenient to do both. I killed two birds with one stone and saw some old friends while I was in Leeds visiting my parents.

See also: bird, kill, two

leave no stone unturned

to do everything that you can in order to achieve something or to find someone or something. Both organizations have vowed to leave no stone unturned in the search for peace.

See also: leave

sink like a stone

to fail completely. He had published two novels, both of which sank like a stone.

See also: like, sink

Sticks and stones may break my bones (but words will never hurt me).

something that you say which means that people cannot hurt you with bad things they say or write about you. Criticism has never bothered me. Sticks and stones may break my bones, and all that.

See also: bone, break, may, Stick

Stone the crows! (British & Australian, informal, old-fashioned)

something that you say in order to show that you are very surprised. So she's a film director now. Well, stone the crows!

See also: crow

a stone's throw

a very short distance. We were staying in a small apartment just a stone's throw from the beach. (usually + from) The city centre is only a stone's throw away. (sometimes + away)

See also: throw

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get blood from a stone

to do something very difficult. Jesse tried to get a loan from her parents, but that's just trying to get blood from a stone.

See also: blood, from

a heart of stone

an unfriendly and unkind character. The sad condition of these refugees would move a heart of stone to sympathy.

a heart of gold

See also: heart

kill two birds with one stone

to do two things at the same time using the effort needed to do only one. I killed two birds with one stone and saw some old friends while I was in Louisiana visiting my parents.

See also: bird, kill, two

leave no stone unturned

to do everything possible in order to achieve or find something. Both sides have vowed to leave no stone unturned in the search for peace.

See also: leave

set in stone

firmly established and very difficult to change. The schedule isn't set in stone, but we'd like to stick to it pretty closely.

Usage notes: sometimes with other verbs, such as write, carve, or etch: Our business plan isn't carved in stone — we can still make adjustments if we need to.

See also: set