surefire

[ shoo r-fahyuh r, shur- ]

/ ˈʃʊərˌfaɪər, ˈʃɜr- /

sure to work; foolproof: a surefire moneymaking scheme.

Origin of surefire

First recorded in 1915–20; sure + fire

After all, there is only one sure-fire message that I can send by putting a Coexist sticker on the back of my car.

COEXIST’s Bonehead Bumper-Sticker Politics |Michael Schulson |December 21, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The Founders had a sure-fire way to get out the vote: get out the booze.

Founding Fathers Loved Drunk Voters |Kevin Bleyer |November 1, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
A sure-fire draft pick turned into a 50-50 chance, and then a suspenseful wait through the final rounds of the NFL draft.

Michael Sam Makes NFL History At Last |Robert Silverman |May 11, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Crystal is always a sure-fire talk-show guest and he proved an ideal choice.

Jay Leno Cries It Out |Tom Shales |February 7, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

Implemented at a national scale, fiat pricing does not seem to be a sure-fire strategy for holding down cost growth.

Can the Government Control Health Care Costs By Fiat |Megan McArdle |March 1, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
Pratts Lice Salve is a sure-fire lice killer in another form.

Pratt's Practical Pointers on the Care of Livestock and Poultry |Pratt Food Co.
Even the apparently "sure-fire" one may deliver a disturbing kick to its perpetrator.

Public Speaking |Clarence Stratton
"Sure-fire hit," Mr. Rooney pronounced, as he spat on the stage floor behind the curtain.

Blue-grass and Broadway |Maria Thompson Daviess
He could picture her glutinous satisfaction as she re-read her scenario and gloated over its sure-fire qualities.

The Girl on the Boat |Pelham Grenville Wodehouse
It's a sure-fire cinch she'll never give you one of them salutes she hints at when she comes home ef she knows you backed out.

Rimrock Trail |J. Allan Dunn

sure-fire

(usually prenominal) informal certain to succeed or meet expectations; assured