so help me God
Swearing-in finale
So help me God is an oath formula invoking divine witness to one's sincerity or truthfulness.
It appears at the end of sworn statements and oaths of office: I swear to tell the truth, so help me God.
Used independently, it emphasizes that one is absolutely serious: I will finish this project today, so help me God.
The phrase can express exasperated determination: So help me God, if you do that one more time...
- invocationCalling upon higher authority
- affirmationPositive statement of truth
- idiomFixed phrase, opaque meaning
- oathFormal binding promise
- sworn testimonyOath-bound legal statement
legal proceedings · vow · prayer · sacredness · divinity · holiness · testimony · declaration · promise · faith · covenant · solemnity · tell the truth · whole truth · swearing-in · presidential inauguration · hand on Bible · tradition
- courtroom expressionsobjection, sustained, overruled, all rise, guilty
- oathsoath taking, swearing in, oath ceremony, sworn oath, oath of honor
- courtroom oathsoath, testimony, sworn statement, affidavit, deposition
so help me Godwhatever
Expression of apathy
just saying · no biggie · just kidding · take it or leave it · off the record
so help me Godjust kidding
Retraction of a jest
perjury · between you and me · off the cuff · white lie · crossed fingers
so help me Godto hell with it
help, helped, helping, helps, helper, helpers, helpful, helpfully, helpfulness