as if there was ever any doubt

[Maybo]

Liam gives a great performance, as usual. His team wins the debate, as if there was ever any doubt.

Source: The Perfect Son by Freida McFadden

What does "as if there was ever any doubt" mean?

 

[Rover_KE]

… which was what everybody had expected.

 

[Maybo]

Is that a set phrase? It sounds to me that the phrase means there was doubt.

 

[emsr2d2]

Is that a set phrase? It sounds to me that the phrase means there was doubt.

It doesn't mean that. It's almost a short way of saying "It's not as if there was every any doubt". Was there ever any doubt that they would win? No.

 

[SoothingDave]

There's a sort of slang snarkiness to the use of "as if" here. Sort of negates the literal meaning.

 

[Matthew Wai]

Is that a set phrase? It sounds to me that the phrase means there was doubt.

I would use "as if" instead of "that" after "sounds to me".