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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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tried-and-true tried and true

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

For cloud-computing giants, though, there is something of a reprieve: At least they could fall back on the tried-and-true business model that sustained them before AI.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026

While superconducting is seen as a tried-and-true method that leverages standard semiconductor manufacturing, neutral atoms are rapidly gaining traction as a promising alternative.

From Barron's ● Jun. 9, 2026

“Forgetting was a tried-and-true way for sheep to get over their sorrows,” Swann observes in her book.

From Salon ● May 17, 2026

“Just relax. This is going to be great. Just stick with the tried-and-true, like a diner. Something basic.”

From "What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

The new creations entered the repertory amid a number of authoritative performances of tried and true ballets—mostly by the troupe’s incomparable founding choreographer George Balanchine.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 9, 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

Younger people are typically more willing to try new things and new brands, whereas older consumers may be less willing to switch from tried and true brands that have worked for them, Anderson said.

From MarketWatch ● Dec. 12, 2025

Demonization and dehumanization are tried and true tactics of demagogues in every era.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 14, 2025

Some of our rules were tried and true; others, we made up on the spot when the occasion called for it.

From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry

Related Words

• proven