so help me

Idioms  

1. Also, so help me God. I swear that what I am saying is true, as in So help me, I haven't enough cash to pay for the tickets, or I wasn't there, so help me God. This idiom became a formula for swearing a formal oath and is still so used in courts of law for swearing in a witness (I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God). It was first recorded in 1508 as “So help me, our Lord.”

---

Example Sentences

But since they abolished most of the hereditary peerage back in 1999, they shortened the process this time, with the Archbishop of Canterbury pledging to be "faithful and true" and Prince William kneeling before his father and saying, "I pledge my loyalty to you and faith and truth I will bear unto you, as your liege man of life and limb. So help me God."

From Salon

“CSI: Vegas,” “NCIS,” “NCIS: Hawai’i,” “Blue Bloods,” “The Equalizer,” the comic legal drama “So Help Me Todd” and “Fire Country,” which has a criminal-justice element.

From Los Angeles Times

When he is through with his remarks, he places his hand on a Bible and takes the oath of office, the one that is spelled out in the South Carolina Constitution: “I do solemnly swear I will be faithful, and true allegiance bear to the State of South Carolina … and that I will, to the best of my abilities, discharge the duties thereof, and preserve, protect and defend the constitution of this State and of the United States: So help me God.”

From Slate

“In the affirmation or declaration, the words ‘so help me God’ shall be omitted,” the memo reads.

From Seattle Times

Simon & Schuster published a book titled “So Help Me God” by Mr. Pence on Nov. 15, 2022.

From Washington Times