sure as death and taxes

alternative sure as death or taxes

1. not comparablesimileTotally certain.

   Things as certain as Death and Taxes, can be more firmly believ'd: The Devil not have a Cloven-Foot!

   1726, Daniel Defoe, chapter 6, in The History of the Devil, as well Ancient as Modern, second edition, The Modern History of the Devil, page 269

   2 more examples

   Time, with his stealing steps, hath clawed me in his clutch, as the old song says: And this cursed gout; but it is what we must all come to. Nothing so sure as death and taxes.

   1824, Jonathan Swift, The novels of Swift, Bage and Cumberland, Hurst, Robinson, and Company, page 425

   This bad practice may be followed for years before the runaway follows, but that it will eventually is "as sure as death and taxes."

   1907, F.B. Farmer, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen's Magazine, volume 43, A Dangerous Air Brake Practice, page 59

alternative sure as death or taxes

1. not comparablesimileMost certainly.

   "As sure as Death and Taxes", the old proverb says. But there's a difference. You may evade, dodge or lie out of your taxes, but Death will not be deceived or denied.

   1908, The Insurance Age, volume 36, page 445

   Synonyms: sure as eggs is eggs, certain as death and taxes, certain as death or taxes