(one) could have sworn (that) (something was the case)
One felt totally sure that something was the case. A: "Tom, is that report finished yet?" B: "Yes, I could have sworn I emailed it to you already. I'll just have to send it again." Martha said she could've sworn that the checkbook was in the desk drawer, but I couldn't find it anywhere. A: "Hey, where's Marcy?" B: "I could have sworn she told me she was coming, but maybe I'm mistaken."
swear (that) black is white
To swear, believe, or act like what's true is the opposite of the real situation, especially in order to get what one wants or to advance one's agenda. The government can't keep swearing black is white when it comes to these real estate figures, or else we're going to head into the same economic difficulty we were in ten years ago. The president could swear that black is white, and he would still have people lining up to agree with everything he says.
swear a warrant out
To file a judicial writ for some legal action to be taken, usually the arrest or detention of someone. The police swore a warrant out for the CFO's arrest after evidence of his embezzlement scheme emerged. The sheriff swore warrants out against the three men suspected of committing the bank robbery. The woman swore a warrant out to have her ex-husband arrested, claiming that he had violated the terms of his restraining order.
swear a warrant out for (someone or something)
To file a judicial writ for someone to be arrested or detained. The police swore a warrant out for the CFO's arrest after evidence of his embezzlement scheme emerged. The sheriff swore warrants out for the three men suspected of committing the bank robbery. The woman swore a warrant out for her ex-husband, claiming that he had violated the terms of his restraining order.
swear a warrant out on (one)
To file a judicial writ for one to be arrested or detained. The police swore a warrant out on the CFO after evidence of his embezzlement emerged. They're not going to swear a warrant out on him unless you're willing to testify. Community services swore warrants out on the children for them to be taken into custody by the state.
swear at (someone or something)
To utter a curse or similarly vulgar or abusive language toward someone or something. Don't you dare swear at me like that—who taught you such filthy words? The player stormed off the field swearing at the referee.
swear blind
To make a very serious, solemn pledge, especially that one is telling the truth. Janet has sworn blind that she wasn't the one to betray me, and I believe her.
swear by (someone or something)
1. To have and proclaim one's complete faith or confidence in someone or something. Not everyone believes that magnets have healing properties, but I've sworn by them for years—they're the only thing that's given me relief from back pain! You should ask our accountant to have a look at your tax returns. He's always been able to save us money, so we swear by him!
2. To make a very serious, solemn pledge or oath, especially that something will happen or that one is telling the truth. The person or thing following "by" is typically someone or something that one loves or respects. I swear by my mother's grave that I will get revenge on the people who wronged you. He swore by God that he was telling the truth.
3. To be certain of or sure about something. That should fix the connectivity issues with the servers, but I can't swear by it until I've had a chance to run some tests.
swear down
1. An exclamation of one's truthfulness. Primarily heard in UK. It was Tommy who bungled up the report, not me. Swear down!
2. To swear to someone that what one has said is true. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "swear" and "down." Primarily heard in UK. She swore me down that she didn't take the money.
swear in
To administer an oath to someone as part of the official process of taking public office. A noun or pronoun can be used between "swear" and "in." The current president was sworn in after his predecessor died of a sudden heart attack. We will swear you in as newly qualified members of the police force at the end of the ceremony.
swear like a pagan
obsolete To use profanities or vulgar language very freely or frequently. My father forbade my sister from mingling with some uncouth young fellow who would swear like a pagan in polite company like that. I say, sir, such language is intolerable. You shall not be allowed in should you continue to swear like a pagan.
swear like a sailor
To use profanities or vulgar language very freely and fluently. (An allusion to the rough language presumed to be used by military personnel.) My little sister has been swearing like a sailor ever since she started learning bad words. My granny is the sweetest old lady you'll ever meet, but she swears like a sailor when she gets on the topic of something or someone she doesn't like.
swear like a trooper
To use profanities or vulgar language very freely and fluently. (An allusion to the rough language presumed to be used by military personnel.) My granny is the sweetest old lady you'll ever meet, but she swears like a trooper when she gets on the topic of something or someone she doesn't like.
swear off (something)
To promise, pledge, or be determined not to do, use, eat, or imbibe something anymore. Thank you, but I don't drink. I swore off alcohol when my father was killed by a drunk driver. Jack swore off cigarettes for his New Year's resolution.
swear on (one's) mother's grave
To make a very serious, solemn pledge, especially that one is telling the truth. Janet has sworn on her mother's grave that she wasn't the one to betray me, and I believe her. I swear on my mother's grave that if I have a chance to help your campaign, I will.
swear on (someone or something)
To make a very serious, solemn pledge or oath, especially that one is telling the truth. The person or thing following "on" is typically someone or something that one loves or respects. Janet has sworn on her mother's grave that she wasn't the one to betray me, and I believe her. I swear on my children that I will get revenge on the people that wronged you. You have to swear on the Bible when you testify in court.
swear on a stack of Bibles
To make a very serious, solemn pledge, especially that one is telling the truth. A hyperbolic reference to the traditional act of placing one's hand on a Bible while taking an oath, such as before a court proceeding. Janet has sworn on a stack of Bibles that she wasn't the one to betray me, and I believe her. I swear on a stack of Bibles that if I have a chance to help your campaign, I will.
swear out a warrant
To file a judicial writ for some legal action to be taken, usually the arrest or detention of someone. The police swear out a warrant for the CFO's arrest after evidence of his embezzlement scheme emerged. The sheriff swear out warrants against the three men suspected of committing the bank robbery. The woman swore out a warrant to have her ex-husband arrested, claiming that he had violated the terms of his restraining order.
swear out a warrant for (someone or something)
To file a judicial writ for one to be arrested or detained. The police swore out a warrant for the CFO's arrest after evidence of his embezzlement scheme emerged. The sheriff swear out warrants for the three men suspected of committing the bank robbery. The woman swore out a warrant for her ex-husband, claiming that he had violated the terms of his restraining order.
swear out a warrant on (one)
To file a judicial writ for one to be arrested or detained. The police swore out a warrant on the CFO after evidence of his embezzlement emerged. They're not going to swear out a warrant on him unless you're willing to testify. Community services swore out warrants on the children for them to be taken into custody by the state.
swear under (one's) breath
To utter obscene or blasphemous remarks in a very soft or indistinct voice, such that others are unable to hear or understand them clearly. Steven stormed away from his parents and into his room, swearing under his breath the whole way. My dad spent nearly an hour swearing under his breath as he tried to fix the engine on the side of the road.
swear up and down
To make a very serious, solemn pledge, especially that one is telling the truth. Janet has sworn up and down that she wasn't the one to betray me, and I believe her.
sworn enemy
A person, group, or organization for whom one holds a particularly intense, deep-seated hatred. Our environmentalist lobby group is heading out to protest against Big Oil, our sworn enemy.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.