SURE
ADJECTIVES
► APT of persons: certain, sure → 1893 Ireland
► DAMN RIGHT certain; sure → 1940s sl.
► DAMN SKIPPY certain; sure → 1940s sl.
► DAMN STRAIGHT certain; sure → 1940s sl.
► DAMN TOOTIN’ certain; sure → 1940s sl.
► FAST-SURE quite certain; perfectly sure → 1859 Eng. dial.
► FIVE TO FOUR sure, certain → 1992 UK rhyming sl.
► HEART-CERTAIN thoroughly certain or sure → 1818
► POT-SURE thoroughly sure; full of confidence and boldness through drinking → 1648 obs.
► SICKER 1. that may be depended on; in which one can put reliance, confidence, or trust; certain, sure → c1100 Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
2. certain of its effect; effective, sure → 1338
► SLOW-SURE slow and sure → 1837 poetic usage
► SOOTHFAST reliable, certain, sure → 1400 obs.
► SURE AS A GUN, AS quite sure, certainly
► SURE AS CHRISTMAS very sure, certain → 1959 UK sl.
► SURE AS EGGS IS EGGS absolutely sure, certain → 1699 UK sl.
► SURE AS GOD MADE LITTLE APPLES ► SURE AS GOD MADE LITTLE GREEN APPLES very sure, absolutely certain → 1874 UK sl.
► SURE AS GOD MADE RAIN, AS very sure, certain → 1905 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► SURE AS SHIT AND TAXES very sure, absolutely certain → 1957 US sl.
► THOUGHT-SURE clear or sure in point of recollection → 1905 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
ADVERBS
► DEAD TO RIGHTS certain, sure → M19 sl.
► SARTAIN SURE quite sure → 1864 Eng. dial.
INTERJECTIONS & PHRASES
► BET YOUR BOOTS ON to be absolutely sure about a thing → 1999 Aust. sl. (Bk.)
► HAVE THE DEAD WOOD, TO to be sure; to have a good thing → 1851 Amer.
► NO SPIFFING for sure, no fooling → L19 sl.
► YEP! yes; certainly; sure → 1891
NOUNS
► CINCH something sure or easy ..colloq.
► COP a successful bet; hence, any form of ‘sure thing’ or certainty → L19 sl.
► DEAD BIRD a certain bet; a sure thing → L19 Aust. sl.
► JOHN R. BRADEN a winner, any sure thing → 1900 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► NAP a good bet, a sure thing → 2001 UK sl.
► SLOPE OUT a sure thing; a ‘piece of cake’ → 1970 US students’ sl. (Bk.)
VERBS
► CINCH to seize on or make sure of; to guarantee → colloq.
► FASTEN to make sure, to confirm, to ratify an agreement → a900 obs.
► INSURE to assure, to pledge one’s word; to make sure; to guarantee → 1902 Eng. dial. & Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► NAIL to take or obtain for oneself; to secure; to make sure of → 1732 sl., orig. criminals’ usage
Lexicophilia 