as I live and breathe

Idioms  

1. For sure, definitely, as in As I live and breathe, I've never seen a more beautiful view. This expression is generally used to emphasize the truth of a statement and has been so used since the mid-1600s, although sometimes it was put simply as as I live. However, the complete phrase was also used early on, as in Arthur Murphy's 1756 play The Apprentice (2:1): “As I live and breathe, we shall both be taken, for heaven's sake let us make our escape.”

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

as I live and breathe

I sha'n't forget that night, Mr Simple, as long as I live and breathe.

From Peter Simple; and, The Three Cutters, Vol. 1-2 by Frederick Marryat

Now, as I live and breathe, this is pleasant: Rose, his man played and sung for him, and he, it seems, did not know when he should give over.

From Dryden's Works Vol. 3 (of 18) Sir Martin Mar-All; The Tempest; An Evening's Love; Tyrannic Love by John Dryden

"Yes," said Joel, "as true as I live and breathe, I do!"

From Five Little Peppers Midway by Margaret Sidney

"I'll keep it as long as I live and breathe."

From What Katy Did by Susan Coolidge

"I won't swear," she said, "but I'll promise as true as I live and breathe, and draw the breath of life, and that's as good as a swear."

From Darkness and Daylight by Mary Jane Holmes