to be sure

to be sure

1. Undoubtedly or certainly; indeed; of course. Oh, it is way too much money to spend on a car, to be sure, but you can't deny that it's one heck of a car nonetheless. A: "He's a total scumbag." B: "Oh, to be sure, but his sales figures are always quite impressive."

2. To be completely certain (of or about something). I just want to be sure of his motivations before I agree to lend him the money. It all sounds above board from what we've heard, but we need to be sure.

See also: sure, to

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

to be sure

Undoubtedly, certainly, of course, as in The coat is expensive, to be sure, but it's bound to last longer than a cheap one. This idiom was first recorded in 1657.

See also: sure, to

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

to be ˈsure

(formal) used to admit that something is true: He is intelligent, to be sure, but he’s also very lazy.

See also: sure, to

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

to be sure

Indeed; certainly.

See also: sure, to

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.