open-and-shut

[ oh-puhn-uhn-shuht ]

adjective

1. immediately obvious upon consideration; easily decided:

   an open-and-shut case of murder.

open-and-shut

adjective

1. easily decided or solved; obvious

   an open-and-shut case

Word History and Origins

Origin of open-and-shut¹

An Americanism dating back to 1835–45

Idioms and Phrases

Simple, straightforward, easily solved, as in With three eyewitnesses, the prosecutor said this case was open and shut . This term suggests that one has immediate access to the facts of a situation. [c. 1840]

Example Sentences

This is not an open-and-shut case despite how many people would like to believe it is.

From Salon

Sounds like an open-and-shut case, but German director Ilker Çatak argues that the rules of integrity are as flimsy as the rules of surviving a horror flick.

From Los Angeles Times

As such, it would seem to be close to an open-and-shut case: If you want a healthy night's sleep, stay away from electronic devices in the period before you go to bed.

From Salon

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

From New York Times

It’s an open-and-shut case of bias by omission from the Fourth Estate: If you don’t see it and can’t read it, it doesn’t exist.

From Washington Times