Grammar fix
a sure thing
certain result
Something that is expected to happen or succeed with almost no doubt.
How oftenCommon
LevelB2
Used inMostly spoken
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
With her experience, she looked like a sure thing for the manager's job.
Everyone told me getting into my first-choice uni was a sure thing, but I still didn't sleep the night before the results came out.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: The promotion is a sure thing to him.
Say: The promotion is a sure thing for him.
Use 'for someone' when saying who is expected to get the benefit.
Don't confuse it
Other ways to say it
Something is certain to happen
How specific?Any outcomeSuccess
a foregone conclusionThe result seems obvious before the event is over.
a sure thingYou're here · Informal confidence that an expected outcome will happen.
in the bagInformal confidence that victory or success is already secured.