“set in stone”是英语中常用的比喻性习语，核心语义为“固定不变的、不可更改的，已确定的”，强调事物具有确定性和永久性，难以被调整或逆转。该短语与中文成语“板上钉钉”含义相近。该短语的起源可追溯至古代文明对石刻的崇拜与依赖。在古巴比伦、古希伯来等文明中，重要的法律、条约和宗教文本会被精心镌刻在石碑或黏土板上，既为保证内容的耐久性，也借此象征其权威性与不可更改性。最著名的例证包括公元前1754年左右的《汉谟拉比法典》——被刻在巨大的玄武岩石碑上公之于众，以及《圣经》中记载的上帝赐予摩西的十诫石板 。18世纪后，随着墓碑石刻的流行，“石刻即永恒”的认知进一步固化，该短语逐渐从字面意义的“镶嵌于石”演变为喻指“不可更改”的通用习语。与近义词组“carved in stone”“cast in stone”的辨析——三者含义基本一致，但“set in stone”使用范围最广，可用于各类语境。如：
The school's curriculum isn't set in stone; it will be updated according to students' needs.
学校的课程并非一成不变，会根据学生需求进行更新。
The policy on environmental protection was set in stone after the congressional vote.
国会投票后，这项环保政策就正式敲定了。
The marriage agreement was set in stone after both families signed the contract.
双方家庭签署协议后，这份婚姻约定就成了定局。
Our love isn't set in stone, but it's built on mutual trust that can stand tests.
我们的爱情并非一成不变，但它植根于能经受考验的互信之中。
Don't worry—his promise to marry you isn't just empty words, but it's not set in stone until we talk to his parents.
别担心，他求婚的承诺不是空话，但在和他父母沟通前还未最终确定。
They fell in love quickly, but both agreed their future together wasn't set in stone yet.
他们迅速坠入爱河，但两人都认为彼此的未来尚未成定局。
Our plan to travel with friends isn't set in stone—we can change the companions if someone can't come.
我们和朋友旅行的计划并非不可更改，要是有人来不了，我们可以换同行伙伴。
The company's salary scale isn't set in stone and may be adjusted based on performance.
公司的薪资标准并非固定不变，可能会根据业绩进行调整。
The diplomatic consensus was set in stone after three rounds of negotiations.
经过三轮谈判，这项外交共识最终确定。
The troop deployment plan is set in stone and will be implemented tomorrow morning.
部队部署计划已不可更改，将于明早执行。
I know we talked about moving in together, but it's not set in stone—let's think again. 绯闻女孩》
我知道我们聊过同居的事，但这并非不可更改——咱们再好好想想。
