triedandtrue

Tried and true is an English idiom meaning proven to work through testing or experience. It conveys reliability and durability and is commonly applied to methods, tools, recipes, or strategies that have withstood scrutiny. The phrase carries a positive evaluative sense and can be used to reassure performance or trustworthiness.

The expression originates in Early Modern English, with tried indicating tested by trial and true signaling reliability. Earliest known uses appear in print from the 17th or 18th centuries, and the form has persisted in both literary and everyday language. The standard written form is typically "tried and true," though branding and marketing often stylize it as "Tried & True" or as a single word in product names or domain names such as triedandtrue.

Usage and branding are its most visible aspects. In everyday language, it describes a method, technique, or item that has proven effective, as in "a tried and true recipe" or "a tried and true approach." In commercial contexts, the phrase is popular for signaling dependability and is used in slogans, product lines, and company names. Its broad appeal lies in its concise affirmation that experience has validated the quality or usefulness of something.

See also: time-tested, proven, reliable, trustworthy, idioms.