: certain, guaranteed
a lead-pipe cinch

Examples of lead-pipe in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web To put the Silver Valley numbers into context, the average blood lead level for children in Flint, Michigan, at the height of the lead-pipe water crisis in 2015 was 1.3 micrograms per deciliter, and 21 children had blood lead levels over 10 micrograms per deciliter. Martin Schiavenato, The Conversation, 30 Aug. 2023 Michael Dwyer/Associated Press Ullmark, the lead-pipe cinch to capture his first Vezina, entered the night No. 1 in the league in all three goalie metrics, including wins (38-6-1), GAA (1.90), and save percentage (.937). Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Apr. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lead-pipe.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lead-pipe was in 1888

Dictionary Entries Near lead-pipe

Cite this Entry

“Lead-pipe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lead-pipe. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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