surefire

American  

[shoor-fahy^uhr, shur-] / ˈʃʊərˌfaɪər, ˈʃɜr- /

adjective

1. sure to work; foolproof.

   a surefire moneymaking scheme.

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Etymology

Origin of surefire

First recorded in 1915–20; sure + fire

Example Sentences

One surefire way to endear yourself to your favorite eatery is to evangelize for it.

From The Wall Street Journal

For actors struggling to convey their vision behind the camera, stepping back in front is a surefire way to salvage at least some of the film with their own ability.

From Salon

Made up of select excerpts dating from 1962 to 1988, before climaxing with a full performance of his surefire 1960 “Revelations,” the programming revisits Ailey’s body of work through engaging and entertaining samplings that offer the company’s men and women rewarding opportunities to shine in the choreographer’s full-bodied, musically keen dance-making.

From The Wall Street Journal

That would make the studio less likely to take a flier on anything short of a surefire hit from a major film franchise.

From The Wall Street Journal

She’s not even technically part of the main cast, but Adriana de Moura knows eclipsing a bombshell revelation is a surefire way to keep a firm grip on her “friend of” title.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• foolproof