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Glite Dictionary
🍳 With copper base ✅ Completely reliable 🚢 Copper ship covering
copper-bottom

copper-bottom

7.2
Certain to succeed and be reliable
  • adjective
  • /ˈkɑːpərˌbɑːtəm/
  • UK
translation icon : seguro
  • Her plan was considered copper-bottom by everyone on the team.

Examples

  • This investment is a copper-bottom opportunity!

  • They only accept copper-bottom contracts that guarantee payment.

  • The manager assured us it was a copper-bottom investment with no risk of loss.

  • Her plan for the project is copper-bottom and will surely succeed.

  • Her proposal is a copper-bottom way to increase sales next quarter.

  • This contract is copper-bottom; you can trust that it will be honored.

  • We have a copper-bottom guarantee that our product will perform as promised.

Synonyms

rock solid
vscopper-bottom
  • Informal
27 3.6

Very strong and not likely to fail or be wrong

focuses on certainty of success rather than physical or structural strength
sure-fire
vscopper-bottom
8 4.4

Certain to work and bring success

is an informal guaranteed term for plans and deals
copper-bottomed
vscopper-bottom
  • UK
7.2

A plan or investment that is certain and reliable

is identical in meaning but used in informal speech
assured
vscopper-bottom
3.6

Certain to continue in the future

emphasizes guaranteed reliability rather than mere confidence about outcome

Antonyms

uncertain
43 3.9

Not feeling sure or confident

unreliable
10 4.3

Not safe because it might fail or break

How Certain

copper-bottom
  • UK
7.2
certain
946 1.0
likely
∞ 1.0
uncertain
149 2.8
doubtful
38 3.0

Surface Forms

copper-bottom positive

Morphology

copper-bottom = copper + bottom (semi-transparent) = copper + bottom

The idiomatic sense 'certain or guaranteed' is a metaphorical extension from a literal copper-bottomed object (trusted/secure), so the relation is partially inferable but requires cultural/pragmatic knowledge.

Etymology

Copper-bottom comes from the old practice of covering a ship's bottom with copper so the vessel would be safe from damage. A helpful way to remember the informal use is this: a 'copper-bottom' plan is one that feels 'certain' and reliable.