Meaning & use
well and truly
Last updated
Meaning
phrasefixed phraseinformalBritish
completely and without doubt; used to emphasize that something is fully done or definitely true.
Grammar: Comes before an adjective or past participle: well and truly beaten, well and truly over.
Patterns
- well and truly finished
- well and truly beaten
- well and truly over
By the time we arrived, the party was well and truly over.
The team was well and truly beaten in the final.
I'm well and truly ready for a holiday.
Common combinations
- well and truly over
- Their relationship is well and truly over.
- well and truly beaten
- The champion was well and truly beaten by the young challenger.
- well and truly settled
- After ten years, they are well and truly settled in the village.
- well and truly done
- That job is well and truly done, so we can go home.
Synonyms and how they differ
- completely
- A neutral adverb that simply means 'totally', without the added emphasis of 'well and truly'.
- thoroughly
- Similar but often suggests careful attention to detail rather than finality.
Commonly confused: well and truly or well and good?
well and truly vs well and good
This phrase means 'acceptable' or 'all very well', as in 'That's all well and good, but...'. It does not mean 'completely'.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'well and truly' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Well and truly' typically comes before an adjective or past participle to emphasize completion. It does not normally modify a simple present verb like 'sings' or 'live', nor does it come before a noun phrase like 'a teacher'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “well and truly”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.