cut and dry/cut and dried: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Thursday, April 26, 2012

cut and dry/cut and dried
Many people mishear the standard expression meaning “set,” “not open to change,” as “cut and dry.” Although this form is listed in the Oxford English Dictionary, it is definitely less common in sophisticated writing. The dominant modern usage is “cut and dried.” When used to modify a noun, it must be hyphenated: “cut-and-dried plan.”