Describing a situation or case that is clear, obvious, and easily resolved, leaving no room for doubt or further investigation. It suggests a straightforward process where the outcome is predictable and requires minimal effort to understand or decide. Often used in legal or investigative contexts, it implies that the evidence or facts are so compelling that the conclusion is inevitable. The term emphasizes the lack of complexity or ambiguity in the matter at hand. Furthermore, it speaks of easy and rapid conclusions to any task at hand.
Open-and-shut meaning with examples
- The evidence against him was so overwhelming; the prosecution considered it an open-and-shut case. The jury would have little trouble reaching a guilty verdict given the irrefutable proof. His lawyers knew there wasn't a chance of winning this so suggested that he should plead guilty to save money on legal fees.
- When the police found the stolen goods in his apartment, it became an open-and-shut case of theft. They already had a suspect and were able to tie the crime to a known criminal. Arrest was quick and no argument about his guilt was entertained.
- The company's violation of the safety regulations was an open-and-shut matter. They were clearly not following the law. There was no debate about the consequences for them because they were obvious and included huge fines and a criminal record.
- For her, it was an open-and-shut decision to relocate and seek new opportunities. Given all the circumstances, no amount of thought was required by her to move on. Every reason and fact pointed her in this direction and every other was impossible.
- Given the overwhelming popularity of the new product, the marketing team considered the campaign an open-and-shut success. The marketing team didn't hesitate to start sales and enjoy success from it. Success was guaranteed from the start due to the obvious desirability of the product.