(~r, ~st)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
If you are ~ that something is true, you are certain that it is true. If you are not ~ about something, you do not know for certain what the true situation is.
He’d never been in a class before and he was not even ~ that he should have been teaching...
The president has never been ~ which direction he wanted to go in on this issue...
It is impossible to be ~ about the value of land.
= certain
? doubtful
ADJ: v-link ADJ, ADJ that, ADJ wh, ADJ about/of n
2.
If someone is ~ of getting something, they will definitely get it or they think they will definitely get it.
A lot of people think that it’s better to pay for their education so that they can be ~ of getting quality...
ADJ: v-link ADJ of -ing/n
3.
If you say that something is ~ to happen, you are emphasizing your belief that it will happen.
With over 80 beaches to choose from, you are ~ to find a place to lay your towel...
PHRASE emphasis
4.
Sure is used to emphasize that something such as a sign or ability is reliable or accurate.
Sharpe’s leg and shoulder began to ache, a ~ sign of rain...
She has a ~ grasp of social issues such as literacy, poverty and child care.
ADJ: ADJ n emphasis
5.
If you tell someone to be ~ to do something, you mean that they must not forget to do it.
Be ~ to read about how mozzarella is made, on page 65...
Be ~ you get your daily quota of calcium.
ADJ: v-link ADJ, ADJ to-inf, ADJ that emphasis
6.
Sure is an informal way of saying ‘yes’ or ‘all right’.
‘He rang you?’—‘Sure. Last night.’...
‘I’d like to be alone, O.K?’—‘Sure. O.K.’...
CONVENTION formulae
7.
You can use ~ in order to emphasize what you are saying. (INFORMAL)
‘Has the whole world just gone crazy?’—‘Sure looks that way, doesn’t it.’
= certainly
ADV: ADV before v emphasis
8.
You say ~ enough, especially when telling a story, to confirm that something was really true or was actually happening.
We found the English treacle pudding too good to resist. Sure enough, it was delicious...
PHRASE: PHR with cl (not last in cl)
9.
If you say that something is for ~ or that you know it for ~, you mean that it is definitely true.
One thing’s for ~, Astbury’s vocal style hasn’t changed much over the years...
PHRASE: PHR with cl (not first in cl)
10.
If you make ~ that something is done, you take action so that it is done.
Make ~ that you follow the instructions carefully...
PHRASE: V inflects, usu PHR that
11.
If you make ~ that something is the way that you want or expect it to be, you check that it is that way.
He looked in the bathroom to make ~ that he was alone...
PHRASE: V inflects, usu PHR that
12.
If you say that something is a ~ thing, you mean that you are certain that it will happen or be successful. (INFORMAL)
This proposal is by no means a ~ thing.
PHRASE
13.
If you are ~ of yourself, you are very confident about your own abilities or opinions.
I’d never seen him like this, so ~ of himself, so in command.
PHRASE: v-link PHR