lead-pipe cinch
noun
US, informal
: something very easy or certain
ought to be a lead-pipe cinch to find 
Big Detective Cases
Big Detective Casesif it wasn't him it was you and that's a lead-pipe cinch Nelson Algren
Nelson Algren
Word History
Etymology
lead-pipe from the phrase lead pipe pipe made of lead, from Middle English lede pype, from lede, leed lead + pype, pipe pipe
First Known Use
1888, in the meaning defined above
lead-pipe cinch
phrase
as in sure thing
one that is certain to succeed The attorney displayed no shortage of confidence when proclaiming a not guilty verdict in the trial to be a lead-pipe cinch. Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- sure thing
- slam dunk
- certainty
- cinch
- foregone conclusion
- lock
- shoo-in
- eventuality
- inevitability
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- long shot
- dark horse