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

copper-bottom

1 7.2
Certain to succeed and be reliable
  • adjective
  • /ˈkɑːpərˌbɑːtəm/
  • UK
: 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

assured
vscopper-bottom
79 3.6

Certain to continue in the future

emphasizes guaranteed reliability rather than mere confidence about outcome
rock solid
vscopper-bottom
  • Informal
31 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
13 4.4

Certain to work and bring success

is an informal guaranteed term for plans and deals
copper-bottomed
vscopper-bottom
  • UK
1 7.2

A plan or investment that is certain and reliable

is identical in meaning but used in informal speech

Antonyms

uncertain
41 3.9

Not feeling sure or confident

unreliable
2 4.3

Not safe because it might fail or break

How Certain

copper-bottom
  • UK
1 7.2
certain
286 1.0
likely
∞ 1.0
uncertain
145 2.8
doubtful
54 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.