etch

be etched on (one's) heart

To be something that one will always remember. The day you were born is just etched on my heart—I could never forget what it felt like to hold you for the first time.

See also: etch, heart, on

be etched on (one's) memory

To be something that one will always remember. The day you were born is just etched on my memory—I could never forget what it felt like to hold you for the first time.

See also: etch, memory, on

be etched on (one's) mind

To be something that one will always remember. The day you were born is just etched on my mind—I could never forget what it felt like to hold you for the first time.

See also: etch, mind, on

cast in stone

Permanently fixed or firmly established; not subject to any amendment or alteration. Often used in the negative. The deal isn't yet cast in stone, but we're confident it will go ahead as hoped.

See also: cast, stone

etch (something) in(to) (something)

To cut something, such as a design or message, into some material or surface. Here, use this to try to etch your name into the glass.

See also: etch

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. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

etch something in(to) something

 and etch something in

to erode a design or message into something, usually with acid. They etched their family crest into their good crystal. He etched in his initials.

See also: etch

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

cast in stone

Also, etched in stone. Definite, fixed, as in We may choose to stay longer-our plans aren't cast in stone, or When Carl sets an agenda you can safely assume it's etched in stone. Both expressions allude to sculpture, with the first, from the early 1500s, using the verb cast in the sense of pouring and hardening some material into a final form, and the second cutting or corroding a permanent design.

See also: cast, stone

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

be etched on your ˈheart/ˈmemory/ˈmind

be something that you will never forget because it affected you so strongly: The image of their son holding up the championship trophy would be etched on their memories forever.

See also: etch, heart, memory, mind, on

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017