shoo-in

Noun

shoo-in (plural shoo-ins)

1. The winner of a fixed race, a fixed race.
   • Little Pete was a member of the delegation that were in on the "shoo" in the third race. He had several commissioners placing his coin on Model. If the race was to have been a "shoo-in" for Model, there must have been one or two owners that were not in on the deal.1895, “Pointers from the Paddock”, in The San Francisco Call
   • Most of the "regulars" are deeply suspicious of all steeplechase races of late years, and, whenever the favorite falls at one of the obstacles and a long priced leaper wins the race, they loudly call the race a "shoo-in" (a fixed affair, that is, in which the steeplechase racers have arranged to...1910, “Vernacular of the Race Track”, in New-York Tribune
2. (broadly, colloquial) A candidate or contestant generally agreed upon as the presumptive winner; a favorite, somebody who is well-liked or widely agreed upon.
   • She's very popular and good with numbers, so I expect she'll be a shoo-in for treasurer.
   • Participation in primaries was often more important than in the general election because the Democratic Party nominee was a shoo-in for success in the general election.2007, Governors Speak, by Jack D. Fleer, page 47