sure thing

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See synonyms for sure thing on Thesaurus.com

noun

something that is or is supposed to be a certain success, as a bet or a business venture: He thinks that real estate is a sure thing.

something assured; certainty: It's a sure thing that he'll refuse to cooperate.

interjection

surely; for sure; O.K.

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CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of sure thing

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40

Words nearby sure thing

surefooted, sure-handed, surely, sure of oneself, Sûreté, sure thing, surety, suretyship, surf, surface, surface acoustic wave

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use sure thing in a sentence

The only sure thing in diets is that there’ll be a new one as soon everyone’s tired of this one.
Is keto really better for weight loss? A new study takes a closer look at the diet.|Tamar Haspel|January 21, 2021|Washington Post
After everything that’s happened, nothing with Boeing is a sure thing.
The 11 biggest space missions of 2021 (and their chances of success)|Neel Patel|January 4, 2021|MIT Technology Review
However, e-commerce growth is a sure thing and multiple surveys have confirmed that holiday shopping is already underway, following Prime Day.
Online holiday sales could reach $200 billion according to Adobe|Greg Sterling|October 28, 2020|Search Engine Land
Accordingly, our prediction model gives Los Angeles a 69 percent chance of winning its first title since 1988 — big by baseball standards, but far from a sure thing.
What To Watch For In One Of The Most Intriguing World Series Ever|Neil Paine (neil.paine@fivethirtyeight.com)|October 20, 2020|FiveThirtyEight

If the Foxes looked like a safe bet for Champions League qualification before City’s ban, they looked a sure thing in its aftermath.
Leicester City Seemed Like A Sure Thing For The Champions League. Not Anymore.|Terrence Doyle|July 15, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
But people have always liked, and will like, the idea of a “sure thing.”
The Fiery Death of Sotto Sotto, Toronto’s Celebrity Hotspot|Shinan Govani|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And her work in Trip to Bountiful was widely hailed as an Emmy sure thing.
The Biggest Emmys Snubs and Surprises: 'Modern Family,' McConaughey, and More|Kevin Fallon|August 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And I have a room full of venture capitalists, and they say, “Sure thing, how much does it cost?”
The Curious Passions of Mr. Cosmos: Neil deGrasse Tyson On Space, Climate, and Why Curiosity Wins Every Time|Scott Bixby|June 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The show became such a sure thing, in fact, that Phantom of the Opera no longer holds the record for opening day sales.
New York’s Greatest Show Or How They Did Not Screw Up ‘Guys and Dolls’|Ross Wetzsteon|April 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Just ask Eddie Murphy, who lost his “sure-thing” Oscar following back-to-back dud speeches for Dreamgirls.
The SAG Awards Best Speeches…And What They Mean for Oscar|Kevin Fallon|January 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The only sure thing about most of those schemes is the certainty of 'going bust' and losing every penny you have in the world.
The Outdoor Girls in the Saddle|Laura Lee Hope
He had had a sure thing then, and it was whisked away just when it would have enabled him to pass the crisis of his life.
You Never Know Your Luck, Complete|Gilbert Parker
Stevens and some of the girls in her set say it was considered a sure thing.
The Call of the Beaver Patrol|V. T. Sherman
Ned Foster would never have advised me to put my all on Averstone unless he knew it was a sure thing.
Mrs. Vanderstein's jewels|Mrs. Charles Bryce
Sounded like an attack, sure thing, said Kentucky, but whether our side is pushing or being pushed I have not a notion.
Grapes of wrath|Boyd Cable

British Dictionary definitions for sure thing

sure thing

/ informal /

adverb

(sentence substitute) mainly US all right! yes indeed! used to express enthusiastic assent

noun

something guaranteed to be successful

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with sure thing

sure thing

a sure thing. A certainty, as in Making the bestseller list has been a sure thing for Stephen King. This usage originally alluded to a bet that one could not lose. [First half of 1800s]

Yes indeed, certainly, as in Are you coming tonight?—Sure thing! This use of the idiom as an interjection dates from the late 1800s.

sure thing

Origin of sure thing

Words nearby sure thing

Words related to sure thing

How to use sure thing in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for sure thing

Other Idioms and Phrases with sure thing