a pound to a penny

English

Adverb

a pound to a penny (not comparable)

  1. (UK, idiomatic) Very likely; almost certainly.
    • c. 1872, Holme Lee (pseudonym of Harriet Parr), “Too Prudent by Half; or, Proud Nelly Kingsland”, in Country Stories, Old and New. In Prose and Verse‎, volume 1, Smith, Elder & Co., published 1872, page 265:
      "I'll lay you a pound to a penny that proud Miss Nelly marries John Ormandy in the end."
    • 2010, P. F Bonneton, The Seeds of Time‎, →ISBN, page 150:
      ...and where was out boy? ...Discharged early from the National Service in Cyprus! A pound to a penny he was home with Mum...
    • 2015, Rachel Brimble, chapter 17, in What a Woman Desires‎, →ISBN, page 160:
      Mrs. Seaton raised her eyebrows. "What does she think will happen? She might respect what you have to say, but I'll put a pound to a penny no one else at that table will."

Usage notes

The initial "a" is often elided.

Synonyms
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