sure-fire

Examples

• All

• Remember that unions are the only sure-fire way to increase mean wages.

  Blog text (13)

• This is a sure-fire cure.

  Surf's Up (2007)

• The next one is a sure-fire winner.

  In Love with Alma Cogan (2011)

• Are you looking for a sure-fire way to keep holiday weight gain at bay?

  Blog text (28)

• It's the only sure-fire way to reach the silent army.

  Academic text (2013)

• I think my life story would make a sure-fire bestseller.

  September (1987)

• It's also a sure-fire way to impress the judges of a story writing contest.

  Blog text (2)

• What had seemed like a sure-fire opportunity to impress his boss had turned into a full-scale disaster.

  Fiction book (1991)

• But here's the thing: it turns out there's a sure-fire way of shaking off that funk.

  Blog text (21)

• Sharing a laugh is a sure-fire way to get someone on your side.

Synonyms

S

sure

vssure-fire

∞ 1.0

Certain to happen or be true

applies to guaranteed practical success rather than general truth about future events

C

certain

vssure-fire

946 1.0

Sure to happen or be true

focuses on proven effectiveness and success rather than mere happening

C

copper-bottom

vssure-fire

• UK

7.2

Certain to succeed and be reliable

is a general label for guaranteed success or effectiveness

A

assured

vssure-fire

3.6

Certain to continue in the future

focuses on an external guarantee of working or succeeding rather than confidence

Antonyms

I

ineffective

90 3.4

Not working well enough to give the wanted result

U

unreliable

71 4.1

Not able to be trusted to work or be right

How Likely

sure-fire

8 4.4

reliable

358 2.7

likely

∞ 1.0

uncertain

149 2.8

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology