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 Supple. To supple both ends of it, verb. phr. (Scots venery).To knock down a prick (q.v.).

d. 1796. Burns [Merry Muses (1800), 93]. I soupled it Tho bauldly he did blatter.

Supple Twelfth, subs. phr. (military).—The 12th Lancers.

Surat, subs. (provincial).—See quot.

1864. Hotten, Slang Dict., s.v. An adulterated article of inferior quality. Since the American Civil War, it has not been unusual for manufacturers to mix American cotton with surat, and, the latter being an inferior article, the people in Lancashire have begun to apply the term surat to any article of inferior or adulterated quality.

Sure. To make (or be) sure to, verb. phr. (old colloquial.—To betroth; to be engaged to marry.

d. 1535. Sir T. More, Hist. Rich. III. The King was sure to Dame Elizabeth Lucy, and her husband before God.

1608. Middleton, Trick, etc., iii. 1. I am but newly sure yet to the widow.

1611. Cotgrave, Dict., s.v. Accordailles The betrothing or making sure of a man and woman together.

1665. J. Cotgrave, Wits Interpreter, 177. She's that's made sure to him she loves not well, Her banes are asked here, but she weds in hell.

1632. Brome, Northern Lass. I presumed you had been sure, as fast as faith could bind you.

Sure as the creed (as eggs, fate, death, a gun, etc.), phr. (colloquial).—As sure as may be; of a certainty. [See Eggs and Gun for numerous quots.]

1393. Gower, Confessio Amantis. Siker as the crede.

1672. Ray, Proverbs, 'Prov. Similes.' As sure as check or Exchequer pay. This was a proverb in Queen Elizabeth's time; the credit of the Exchequer beginning in, and determining with her reign, saith Dr Fuller. Ibid. As sure (or as round) as a juggler's box As sure as a louse in bosom As sure as a louse in Pomfret As sure as a coat on one's back.

1703. Steele, Tender Husband, iii. 2. She's distracted, as sure as a gun.

1772. Bridges, Burlesque Homer, 439. But sure as eggs, whilst folks are sleeping We both again should catch thee peeping.

d. 1774. Goldsmith [Oliphant, New Eng., ii. 188. I may mention as idioms of this age as sure as eggs is eggs, handsome is as handsome does from Goldsmith].

1809. Malkin, Gil Blas [Routledge], 143. As sure as a gun then he is going to make a night of it.

Sure Card (or Thing), subs. phr. (colloquial).—A certainty; anything entirely trustworthy (B. E.).

1537. Thersites [Dodsley, Old Plays (Hazlitt), i. 363]. This is a sure card, this piece of work.

1579. Lyly, Euphues (1636), A. iv. A cleere conscience is a sure card.

1589. R. Harvey, Plain Perc, 12. To get a sure card on their side, Either calles for Iustice.

1593. Shakspeare, Tit. Andron. v., 1. 100. As sure a card as ever won the set.

1613. Fletcher, Captain [quoted by Gifford, Jonson, ii. 284]. For. You know the juggling captain? Clown. Ay; there's a sure card.

1672. Ray, Proverbs, 'Entire Sentences.' A clear conscience is a sure card.

c. 1696. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. A sure Card, a trusty Tool, or Confiding Man.

1725. Bailey, Erasmus, i. 'Of a Soldier's Life.' To be sure that Christopher the Collier was a sure card to trust to.

1742. Fielding, J. Andrews, iv. iii. We have one sure card, which is to carry him before Justice Frolick.

Suresby, subs. (old).—A dependable person: cf. Rudesby, Wigsby, etc.

1586. Withals, Dict., 564. Lydius sive Herculeus lapis; hee is old sureby.

1611. Coryat, Crudities, i. 42. Old suresbyes, to serue for all turnes.