156-cross some one's heart

[matilda]

Hello all

What does (cross some one's heart) mean???

Thanks all


Matilda

[Coffa]

"Crossing your heart" means to make the sign of the crucifix on your body by pointing to the four ends of the cross in turn. It is a Christian gesture (usually Catholic) intended to suggest that you are making an oath before God. In common use now, it is an idiom meaning that you are making a solemn promise or telling the truth, from the child's rhyme: "I cross my heart and hope to die, should I ever tell a lie."

So if someone says to you that they never drink alcohol, for example, you might reply by asking "Cross your heart?" which means "Do you solemnly swear that is the truth?"

[dzmitry]

‘Now swear again!’ Lissa whispered. ‘Never tell anyone, Daddy Lew or anyone, or hope to die!’
‘Hope to die,’ Brian agreed

Originally Posted by Coffa

from the child's rhyme: "I cross my heart and hope to die, should I ever tell a lie."

What does "hope to die" mean? Is it something like "I'll die if I tell to someone" in the first case and "I'll die if I tell a lie" in the second quotation?

[Coffa]

Originally Posted by dzmitry

What does "hope to die" mean? Is it something like "I'll die if I tell to someone" in the first case and "I'll die if I tell a lie" in the second quotation?

Yes, your quotation is an adaptation of the original rhyme.