open-and-shut

[oh-puhn-uhn-shuht] / ˈoʊ pən ənˈʃʌt /

ADJECTIVE

pretty much decided

Synonyms

WEAK

apparent assured cinched clear clear as a bell clear-cut conclusive cut and dried distinguishable easy evident explicit glaring guaranteed iced in the bag indisputable nailed down obvious ordinary plain routine self-evident self-explanatory sewn up simple straightforward undeniable undisguised unmistakable

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Our reviewer, Steven Poole, wrote that “the book proceeds like a convoluted murder mystery, introducing one suspect after another in what seems like an open-and-shut case, before puncturing the promising narrative with an inconvenient fact.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025

Despite the recordings that made it seem like an open-and-shut case, the prosecutions of Echeverria and Pineda stretched on for years, winding through the L.A.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 1, 2025

And it’s difficult to envision four members of the current court agreeing to do so given the open-and-shut failure of Davis’ main argument.

From Slate • Aug. 13, 2025

So, this would appear to be an open-and-shut case.

From New York Times • Sep. 13, 2023

“I just meant that it was pretty open-and-shut with your dad. No one questioned whether it was right or wrong.”

From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro

open-and-shut

Example Sentences

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