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• tried-and-true
  tried-and-true

  adjective

  tested and found to be reliable or workable.
• tried and true
  tried and true

  Tested and proved to be worthy or reliable, as in Let me deal with it—my method is tried and true. [Mid-1900s]

tried-and-true

American  

[trahyd-n-troo] / ˈtraɪd nˈtru /

adjective

1. tested and found to be reliable or workable.

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tried and true Idioms  

1. Tested and proved to be worthy or reliable, as in Let me deal with it—my method is tried and true. [Mid-1900s]

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Usage

What does tried-and-true mean? Tried-and-true is used to describe things that are known to work or be reliable due to having been tested or having worked many times before. The term uses the sense of the word true meaning reliable and unfailing. Tried-and-true is most often used to describe methods, tools, or other things that someone believes to be reliable because they’ve used many times before and they’ve always worked. It’s often used in situations in which someone wants to continue using the same method or tool they’ve been using to do something instead of trying something new that they’re unfamiliar with (even if it may work better). It’s sometimes used without hyphens, as tried and true. However, if it’s used immediately before a noun, it’s usually hyphenated, as in a tried-and-true method for getting out stains. Example: Why should we try a new recipe for chocolate chip cookies when we could just stick to the one that’s tried-and-true and that we’ve used for years?

Etymology

Origin of tried-and-true

First recorded in 1930–35

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tried-and-true tried and true

For now, however, doctors suggest that Americans address their heart health with tried-and-true methods like exercising more, not smoking, and controlling their blood pressure, according to Caprio.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026

During three seasons as the Rams’ offensive coordinator, Mike LaFleur said McVay established strong foundations but also used his tireless energy to encourage assistants to tear down tried-and-true concepts and build them back, sparking innovation.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026

It is a tried-and-true price point that encourages people to switch brands and try new products, from soap to soda, pain relievers to party favors.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

"Fireworks are a tried-and-true American tradition," Jodi Dague, Pyrotecnico's director of marketing, told AFP.

From Barron's ● Jul. 2, 2026

Probably shouldn’t wake a sleeping grandma unless there’s a tried-and-true emergency.

From "Clean Getaway" by Nic Stone

The music industry might be upside down in 2026, but one formula that has proved tried and true is the transition from studio to the stage.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2026

“Just do the tried and true thing with GRATs,” said Diana Zeydel, an estate lawyer and global chair of the private wealth services practice at Greenberg Traurig in Miami.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026

The tried and true disciplines — diversification across and within asset classes and periodic rebalancing — do not make headlines.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 17, 2026

He liked the tried and true “blue team-red team” strategy of designating people to explicitly challenge models and assumptions to overcome institutional biases.

From Barron's ● Feb. 1, 2026

With a deep breath, she sang, “Reveal your secrets, tried and true; my heart is here to hear them too.”

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton

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Related Words

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