sure as eggs
1
9.9
- idiom
- Archaic
- I will be there on time, sure as eggs!
Examples
-
You can count on her support, sure as eggs.
-
He'll be there first thing in the morning, sure as eggs.
-
It's going to rain later, sure as eggs.
-
You can count on him, sure as eggs.
-
He'll arrive on time, sure as eggs.
-
This project will be a success, sure as eggs.
-
She always tells the truth, sure as eggs.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
Showing that something is true or will happen without any doubt
862
1.0
Without any doubt
206
5.4
To say yes very strongly to show something is certain
107
2.3
Says that something is certainly true
89
2.7
Shows that something happens exactly as expected
86
1.3
To be completely sure and have no doubt
24
9.9
You can be certain it is true
1
8.2
Completely certain that something will happen
1
8.8
Certain to happen without any doubt
1
9.1
Certain to happen
Antonyms
How Certain
- Offensive
24
9.9
- Informal
1
8.2
- Archaic
1
9.9
- Informal
1
8.8
Surface Forms
Morphology
The core meaning 'certain' is directly signaled by 'sure', so a learner who knows that word and the comparative pattern 'as ...' can infer this is an emphatic assertion. However, 'as eggs' is an arbitrary, conventional simile with no transparent contribution to the meaning and is idiomatic, so the phrase is only partially predictable from its parts.
Etymology
Sure as eggs may come from an old, plain saying 'eggs is eggs', a short idea that some things are as simple and steady as a common food. That's why sure as eggs means 'certainly' or 'without a doubt'.