or sure thing, subs. phr. (colloquial).—A certainty; anything entirely trustworthy (B. E.).

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  1537.  Thersites [DODSLEY, Old Plays (HAZLITT), i. 363]. This is a SURE CARD, this piece of work.

2

  1579.  J. LYLY, Euphues (1636), A. IV. A cleere conscience is a SURE CARD.

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  1589.  R. HARVEY, Plaine Percevall, 12. To get a SURE CARD on their side, either calles for Justice.

4

  1593.  SHAKESPEARE, Titus Andronicus, v. 1. 100. AS SURE A CARD as ever won the set.

5

  1613.  FLETCHER, The Captain [quoted by GIFFORD, Jonson, ii. 284]. For. You know the juggling captain? Clown. Ay; there’s a SURE CARD.

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  1672.  RAY, Proverbs, ‘Entire Sentences.’ A clear conscience is a SURE CARD.

7

  c. 1696.  B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. A SURE CARD, a trusty Tool, or Confiding Man.

8

  1725.  N. BAILEY, trans. The Colloquies of Erasmus, i. ‘Of a Soldier’s Life.’ To be sure that Christopher the Collier was a SURE CARD to trust to.

9

  1742.  FIELDING, Joseph Andrews, IV. iii. We have one SURE CARD, which is to carry him before Justice Frolick.

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