sure as death and taxes
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Totally certain.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Time, with his stealing steps, hath clawed me in his clutch, as the old song says: And this cursed gout; but it is what we must all come to. Nothing so sure as death and taxes.
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 and taxes” mean?
Totally certain.
Is “sure as death and taxes” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.