swear by someone or something
- swear by someone or something
swear by someone or something
1. Lit. to utter an oath on someone or something. •
I swear by Jupiter that I will be there on time.
•
She swore by her sainted mother that she would never do it again.
•
The sheriff swore by his badge that he would lock her up if she ever did it again.
2. Fig. to announce one's full faith and trust in someone or something. •
I would swear by Roger any time. He is a great guy, and he tells the truth.
•
I swear by this computer. It has always served me well.
Dictionary of American idioms.
2013.
Look at other dictionaries:
swear — [ swer ] (past tense swore [ swɔr ] ; past participle sworn [ swɔrn ] ) verb ** 1. ) intransitive to use words that are deliberately offensive, for example because you are angry with someone: That s the first time I ve ever heard him swear. swear … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
swear — S2 [sweə US swer] v past tense swore [swo: US swo:r] past participle sworn [swo:n US swo:rn] ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(offensive language)¦ 2¦(promise)¦ 3¦(state the truth)¦ 4 somebody could have sworn (that) ... 5¦(public promise)¦ 6 swear somebody to… … Dictionary of contemporary English
swear — [swer] vi. swore, sworn, swearing [ME swerien < OE swerian, akin to Ger schwören < IE base * swer , to speak > OSlav svariti, to revile] 1. to make a solemn declaration with an appeal to God or to something held sacred for confirmation… … English World dictionary
swear someone to secrecy — swear someone to secrecy/silence/ phrase to make someone promise not to tell anyone else what you have told them I can’t tell you – I’ve been sworn to secrecy. Thesaurus: to keep something secretsynonym Main entry: swear … Useful english dictionary
swear someone to silence — swear someone to secrecy/silence/ phrase to make someone promise not to tell anyone else what you have told them I can’t tell you – I’ve been sworn to secrecy. Thesaurus: to keep something secretsynonym Main entry: swear … Useful english dictionary
swear */*/ — UK [sweə(r)] / US [swer] verb Word forms swear : present tense I/you/we/they swear he/she/it swears present participle swearing past tense swore UK [swɔː(r)] / US [swɔr] past participle sworn UK [swɔː(r)n] / US [swɔrn] 1) [intransitive] to use… … English dictionary
swear — verb (swears, swearing; past swore; past participle sworn) 1》 state or promise solemnly or on oath. ↘(swear someone in) admit someone to a position or office by directing them to take a formal oath. ↘compel to observe a certain course of… … English new terms dictionary
swear — [[t]swe͟ə(r)[/t]] swears, swearing, swore, sworn 1) VERB If someone swears, they use language that is considered to be rude or offensive, usually because they are angry. It s wrong to swear and shout... [V at n] They swore at them and ran off. 2) … English dictionary
swear — [c]/swɛə / (say swair) verb (swore or, Archaic, sware, sworn, swearing) –verb (i) 1. to make a solemn declaration with an appeal to God or some superhuman being in confirmation of what is declared; make affirmation in a solemn manner by some… …
swear — swearer, n. swearingly, adv. /swair/, v., swore or (Archaic) sware; sworn; swearing. v.i. 1. to make a solemn declaration or affirmation by some sacred being or object, as a deity or the Bible. 2. to bind oneself by oath. 3. to give evidence or… … Universalium
swear up and down — American & Australian, British & Australian, Australian to say that something is completely true, especially when someone does not believe you. He swore up and down that he d never seen the letter. If I ask her, I know she ll swear blind she… … New idioms dictionary
