sure thing

noun

1. 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.

2. something assured; certainty.

   It's a sure thing that he'll refuse to cooperate.

interjection

1. surely; for sure; O.K.

sure thing

adverb

1. (sentence substitute) all right! yes indeed! used to express enthusiastic assent

noun

1. something guaranteed to be successful

Word History and Origins

Origin of sure thing¹

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40

Idioms and Phrases

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.

Example Sentences

With OpenAI’s future riding on a grandiose vision that lacks a clear financial model, though, investors shouldn’t see it as anything close to a sure thing.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The problem with betting on a sure thing over and over is that eventually your luck will probably run out.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But on this night, even routine outs were no sure thing.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Non-prestigious television, unstudded with stars, may be as exciting and original as the Big Thing Emmy handicappers regard as a sure thing, even more so.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The front office’s reluctance to shop in a seller’s market is understandable, considering the most attractive possibilities are by no means sure things.

Read more on Los Angeles Times