shoe-in
UK[ˈʃuː ɪn]US[ˈʃuː ɪn]
n
a person or thing that is certain to win or succeed, especially in a competition or election.
Etymology
The term "shoe-in" originated in early 20th-century American horse racing slang. It referred to a fixed race where the jockey was instructed to hold back their horse, allowing a predetermined winner to "shoe in" effortlessly, as if simply being guided into place. The imagery is of a horse being gently nudged or guided into the winning position, requiring no real competition. Over time, the spelling standardized as a hyphenated compound, and its meaning generalized from a rigged contest to anyone or anything considered a certain winner.
Analysis
This is a fixed compound phrase that has lexicalized into a single word. It is not productively formed from separable morphemes in modern English.
Examples
With her extensive experience and local support, she is considered a shoe-in for the council seat.
The film is a shoe-in to win several awards at the festival.
He was such a shoe-in for the promotion that the announcement was just a formality.