sure as death

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

Most certainly.

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

It was naething to make a wark about. It was just yon windy yonder in the library that is nae windy. And it was open as sure's death. You may laugh if you like. Is that a' she's wantin' wi' me?

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “sure as death” mean?

Most certainly.

Is “sure as death” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.