swear on a stack of Bibles
Promise most earnestly
To swear on a stack of Bibles is to make an emphatic oath, invoking religious solemnity for dramatic effect.
The image amplifies the traditional courtroom gesture of swearing on a single Bible—if one holy book guarantees truth, surely a whole stack must: I swear on a stack of Bibles I didn't touch your sandwich.
The phrase is almost always hyperbolic, used to insist on honesty when someone doubts you.
- oathFormal binding promise
- under oathFormally pledged to honesty
- covenantBinding formal pledge
- holy writSacred authoritative writings
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
pledge · vow · cross my heart · hope to die · pinky promise · scout's honor · affirmation · scripture · promise · perjury · assertion · sworn statement · guarantee · veracity · truthfulness · solemnity · integrity · swear to God
swear on a stack of Biblesshrug it off
waffle · equivocate · hedge · toss off · empty words
swear on a stack of Bibleslie through one's teeth
Deliberately tell obvious falsehoods
bear false witness · deceive · dissemble · fabricate · mislead