sure thing, a

sure thing

1. noun An absolute certainty; a guaranteed success. You should have learned by now that no business model is a sure thing. Getting into the playoffs is a sure thing now, so we can be a little bit more relaxed about this game.2. expression Absolutely; certainly; no problem. A: "Would you mind taking this to the dry cleaner for me?" B: "Sure thing, when do you need it back?" A: "Could you bring a dessert to the dinner party?" B: "Sure thing!"See also: sure, thing

Sure thing.

Inf. I certainly will. Sue: Will you be at the reception? Bob: Sure thing. Bill: You remember my cousin, Tom, don't you? Bob: Sure thing. Hi, Tom.See also: sure, thing

sure thing

1. a sure thing. A certainty, as in Making the bestseller list has been a sure thing for Stephen King. This usage originally alluded to a bet that one could not lose. [First half of 1800s] 2. Yes indeed, certainly, as in Are you coming tonight?-Sure thing! This use of the idiom as an interjection dates from the late 1800s. See also: sure, thing

sure thing

1 a certainty. 2 certainly; of course. informal 1 2001 Business Week Any potential legal challenge to Microsoft's bundling decisions in XP is no sure thing. 2 1995 Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni Arranged Marriage ‘Would you?’ I said gratefully. ‘That would make me feel so much better.’…‘Sure thing!’ said Sharmila hurriedly as she hung up. See also: sure, thing

ˌsure ˈthing

(spoken, especially American English) yes; of course: ‘Will you come tonight?’ ‘Sure thing!’ ♢ ‘Can you help me with this table?’ ‘Sure thing.’See also: sure, thing

sure thing

n. something that is absolutely certain. It’s a sure thing! You can’t lose! See also: sure, thing

sure thing, a

An absolute certainty. This cliché dates from the first half of the nineteenth century and originally alluded to a bet one could not lose. Appropriately, Jane Smiley used it in her racetrack novel, Horse Heaven (2000): “‘Curtis, you’ve been around the racetrack for twenty-five years or more. Don’t you know that the only sure thing is that a sure thing is never a sure thing?’” Without the article, sure thing also is a reply that means “Yes,” or “Certainly.” This usage dates from the late 1800s.See also: sure