sure as sugar

1 8.8

Certain to happen without any doubt

idiom

Informal

: sin duda

You can count on me to help you; I'm sure as sugar about that.

Examples

You can bet he'll show up late, sure as sugar.
You can count on her, she's sure as sugar to help.
If you forget your umbrella, it'll rain, sure as sugar.
She'll call back, sure as sugar.
He will be there at the meeting, sure as sugar!
We will finish this project on time, sure as sugar.
She passed the test, sure as sugar, after studying all night.

Synonyms

certainly

vssure as sugar

∞ 1.0

Showing that something is true or will happen without any doubt

tends to be more colloquial and idiomatic for emphasis

surely

vssure as sugar

∞ 1.0

Without any doubt

leans more on informal image to make certainty vivid

no doubt

vssure as sugar

515 1.8

Shows that something is almost certainly true, often before saying something different

asserts plain certainty without signaling a concession or contrast

for certain

vssure as sugar

104 1.3

To be completely sure and have no doubt

uses a more colorful image to add stronger emphasis

you bet

vssure as sugar

Informal

87 5.4

To say yes very strongly to show something is certain

uses a metaphorical image rather than a casual affirmative reply

sure enough

vssure as sugar

58 2.7

Shows that something happens exactly as expected

emphasizes absolute certainty rather than outcome matching expectation

assuredly

vssure as sugar

19 4.7

Without any doubt and with confidence

uses colloquial imagery to add friendly emphasis instead

without doubt

vssure as sugar

7 2.3

Says that something is certainly true

is more idiomatic and often informal when stressing certainty

sure as shit

vssure as sugar

Offensive

5 9.9

You can be certain it is true

uses a cleaner, less offensive image to show certainty

no bones about it

vssure as sugar

Informal

3 8.3

To show that something is certain or clear

uses a figurative image instead of plain declarative phrasing

sure as shooting

vssure as sugar

Informal

1 8.2

Completely certain that something will happen

uses a milder, friendly image to show certainty

never in doubt

vssure as sugar

1 6.8

Being completely sure about something even when you are wrong

states factual certainty without implying unwarranted personal belief

sure as eggs

vssure as sugar

Archaic

9.9

Says that something will definitely happen or is true

uses a sweet image to emphasize certainty in casual speech

sure as the world

vssure as sugar

Informal

9.1

Certain to happen

uses a gentler, familiar image to stress certainty

absotively sure

vssure as sugar

Informal

9.8

Completely certain that something is true

uses a concise idiom to state certainty rather than playful slang

posilutely certain

vssure as sugar

Informal

9.0

Completely sure in a strong, playful way

uses a short idiom rather than playful invented words

positutely sure

vssure as sugar

Informal

9.8

Completely certain that something is true

prefers a fixed idiom to express certainty more simply

Antonyms

uncertainly

11 4.0

Act or speak in a way that shows you are not sure

doubtfully

4 3.8

In a way that shows you are not sure and have little confidence

How Certain

sure as shit

Offensive

5 9.9

sure as shooting

Informal

1 8.2

sure as eggs

Archaic

9.9

sure as sugar

Informal

1 8.8

Surface Forms

sure as sugar positive

Morphology

sure + as + sugar

The phrase uses the familiar simile/comparative pattern (implicit 'as … as') and the adjective 'sure' already signals certainty, so a B1 learner who knows these constituents would likely infer it means 'very certain'. However, 'sugar' has no literal link to certainty—its role is expressive/rhetorical (a conventional intensifier/rhyme), making the specific collocation only partially predictable.

Etymology

Sure as sugar probably comes from a simple picture: sugar is clearly sweet and easy to notice, so people compared something certain to sugar. That's why saying sure as sugar means 'without any doubt'.