Certainty & Possibility - Certainty

Discover how English idioms like "go without saying" and "beyond a shadow of a doubt" relate to certainty in English.

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to [bet] {one's} (life|boots|bottom dollar) [phrase]

to express strongly and confidently that something is undoubtedly true or will certainly happen

Ex: The detective was sure enough of the suspect 's guilt to bet his life on the evidence .

to {not} [count] {one's} chickens [phrase]

to be cautious and not assume that something will succeed or happen as planned, as there is always a possibility of unforeseen obstacles or problems

Ex: When dealing with important financial arrangements , it is imperative that you do not count your chickens before they are hatched .

beyond a shadow of a doubt [phrase]

used when one can claim that something is true with all one's certainty

Ex: The fingerprint match on the murder weapon pointed to the suspect 's guilt beyond a shadow of a doubt .

dollars to doughnuts [phrase]

used to show one's utmost certainty about something

Ex: Given the state of the housing market , I 'd bet dollars to doughnuts that property prices will continue to rise .

hands down [phrase]

in a way that is free of all ambiguity or uncertainty

Ex: The team played exceptionally well and won the game hands down .

to [go] without saying [phrase]

used to say that something is so obvious that there is no need for further explanation

Ex: It should go without saying that safety is a top priority in any workplace .

mark my [word] [sentence]

used when one is certain that something will happen at some point in the future

Ex: Despite the odds , I believe we 'll succeed in this endeavor ; mark my word , we 'll prove the doubters wrong .

to [seal] {one's} fate [phrase]

to do something that ensures that someone or something fails or something unpleasant happens to them

Ex:

tried and true [phrase]

denoting something that has been tested many times and proved to be reliable or effective

Ex: The recipe for her chocolate chip cookies is a tried and true family favorite .

acid test [noun]

a way of proving the validity of a claim or determining the success rate of a plan

Ex: Passing the bar exam is the acid test for anyone wanting to become a lawyer .

a backward glance [phrase]

a feeling of remorse, and reservation that one gets upon facing a challenge or finding oneself in an unexpected situation

Ex: The old photo album offered a chance for a backward glance into his family 's history and traditions .

to [feel] {sth} in {one's} bones [phrase]

to believe something strongly, even though one cannot explain why

Ex:

foregone conclusion [noun]

something that is assumed to be true or already decided upon before any evidence or arguments are presented

Ex: The academic 's research was so thorough that it made the success of her groundbreaking theory a foregone conclusion .

in no uncertain terms [phrase]

in a way that is most clear or direct

Ex: The boss informed the team in no uncertain terms that the project 's success was crucial and required their full dedication .

a one-way ticket [phrase]

a situation in which any decision made cannot be undone

Ex: Dropping out of college and pursuing a career in music was a one-way ticket to following his passion .

to [be] (only|just|) a matter of time [phrase]

to certainly happen at some point in the future

Ex: For a budding entrepreneur with a great product , it 's just a matter of time before their business takes off .

{sb} can take {sth} to the bank [sentence]

used to imply that something is reliable, certain, and can be trusted completely

Ex: If she says the project will be completed on time , you can take it to the bank because she 's known for delivering results .

Certainty & Possibility
Certainty	Uncertainty	Unlikely Situations	Impossibility
Luck & Chance	Possibility	Likelihood	Expectations
Unexpected	Unbelievable	Definite or Unavoidable