cross my heart and hope to die

• cross my heart
• cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

cross my heart and hope to die (third-person singular simple present crosses my heart and hopes to die, present participle crossing my heart and hoping to die, simple past and past participle crossed my heart and hoped to die)

1. (idiomatic, intransitive) Added to a promise or a statement to show how serious one was about being honest in what one said

• Most frequently used by parents for children, but also between children and in childlike situations.
• In some circles it is said to be the 'ultimate' promise a parent figure can make to a child.

• pinky swear