surefire
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a surefire way
A method or means (of doing something) that is certain to work, be effective, or have a particular outcome. Usually followed by "of" or "to." "Surefire" is sometimes hyphenated. Coming in to work drunk is a surefire way to get yourself fired, Tom. We've developed a sure-fire way of teaching grammar to grade-schoolers that they will not ignore or forget. A: "I hate scrubbing the dishes, so you better be right about this." B: "Trust me, this is a surefire way to keep food from sticking to your pans.
surefire
Certain to work, be effective, or have a particular outcome; foolproof. The term is sometimes hyphenated, and it is always used before a noun. Coming in to work drunk is a surefire way to get yourself fired, Tom. We've developed a sure-fire method of teaching grammar to grade-schoolers in a way that they will not ignore or forget.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
surefire
mod. certain; effective; fail-safe. (Alludes to a gun that will always fire.) I’ve got a surefire method for fixing cracks in drywall.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.