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Synonyms

shoo-in

American  
[shoo-in] / ˈʃuˌɪn /

noun

Informal.
  1. a candidate, competitor, etc., regarded as certain to win.


shoo-in British  

noun

  1. a person or thing that is certain to win or succeed

  2. a match or contest that is easy to win

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of shoo-in

1945–50, noun use of verb phrase shoo in

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

It may not be a shoo-in, either; Australia, expected to be a bit of a pushover, defied expectations to beat Turkey in an upset last weekend.

From Slate Jun. 18, 2026

If you want a classy premium SUV with a conventional gas powertrain, priced under $100,000, the GV80 is kind of a shoo-in.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 6, 2026

Benin was voting for a new president on Sunday, with Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni a shoo-in after overseeing a decade of economic growth in the west African country despite jihadist attacks in the north.

From Barron's Apr. 12, 2026

He offers so much to Manchester City and is a shoo-in for the England squad.

From BBC Feb. 23, 2026

Here’s the next Orlando—a place so awesome it’s a shoo-in for Dino-land!

From "Linked" by Gordon Korman

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