todsicher
surefire / dead certain
Completely certain and beyond any doubt; guaranteed to happen or succeed.
EXAMPLE
Mit dieser Methode findest du den Fehler todsicher.
With this method, you're dead certain to find the error.
todsicher
surefire / dead certain
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Meanings
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry todsicher, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Comparison
| basic form | todsicher |
|---|
After der, die, das
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -e | -e | -e | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -e | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to todsicher.
After ein, eine
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to todsicher.
Without article
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -e |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -e |
| dat. | -em | -er | -em | -en |
| gen. | -en | -er | -en | -er |
Add the ending to todsicher.
Usage tips
Word formation
'Todsicher' (surefire / dead certain) is made up of 'tod' (death) and 'sicher' (certain). Here, 'tod' intensifies the meaning of 'sicher', making the expression particularly emphatic.
EXAMPLE
Sie war todsicher, dass sie den richtigen Weg genommen hatte.
She was dead certain that she had taken the right route.
Sentence position
'Todsicher' (surefire / dead certain) can appear before a noun, in which case it takes adjective endings. It can also be used adverbially after a verb, in which case it remains unchanged.
EXAMPLE
Das ist ein todsicherer Plan.
That's a surefire plan.
Er findet den verlorenen Schlüssel todsicher.
He's dead certain to find the lost key.
Typical collocations
'Todsicher' (surefire / dead certain) often occurs with words such as 'Methode' (method), 'Tipp' (tip), 'Plan' (plan), or 'Zeichen' (sign). These combinations often refer to an expected solution, success, or result.
EXAMPLE
Sie kennt eine todsichere Methode gegen dieses Problem.
She knows a surefire method for dealing with this problem.
Register and style
'Todsicher' (surefire / dead certain) is a colloquial and highly emphatic expression. In conversation, it strongly emphasizes personal conviction or confidence that something will succeed.
EXAMPLE
Mit diesem Rezept gelingt der Kuchen todsicher.
With this recipe, the cake is dead certain to turn out well.
In real life
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