swear (redirected from swore by)

swear like a trooper

to swear a lot. He came in drunk and swearing like a trooper.

See also: like

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 locked the door. He swore black and blue he had nothing to do with the missing money.

See also: down

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swear by something

to strongly believe in something. Though there's no scientific evidence for this method of finding water, some farmers swear by it. Some teachers swear by stickers as a teaching tool and use them to teach kids everything.

swear someone in

to get a formal promise from someone to be honest. A ceremony to swear in the new governor took place Wednesday. The witness took the stand after the court clerk swore her in.

swear off something

to decide to stop doing or using something. He says he has sworn off candy. She won $10,000 on the slots and was so shocked, she swore off gambling completely.

swear up and down

to say as strongly as possible. He swore up and down that he didn't know the guy at all.

Etymology: based on the meaning of swear on the Bible or sometimes swear on a stack of Bibles (= to promise that a statement is true)

See also: down