cross my heart and hope to die

Idioms

Attest to the truth of something; solemnly assure someone that the truth has been spoken. For example, I did lock the door—cross my heart and hope to die! This phrase most likely originated as a religious oath based on the sign of the cross; it is generally accompanied by hand gestures such as crossing one's hands over one's breast and then pointing the right hand skyward (a variant is cross my heart and point to God). Today most often uttered by children, it was first recorded in 1908.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

I’d cross my heart and hope to die before I’d tell on her to anybody.

From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns

I had to cross my heart and hope to die several times before she was satisfied.

From "Where the Red Fern Grows" by Wilson Rawls

"I won't never tell, I won't never tell nobody, Miss Kate, cross my heart and hope to die!"

From Kildares of Storm by Kelly, Eleanor Mercein

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023