swear blind

Related to swear blind: swear up and down

swear blind

To make a very serious, solemn pledge, especially that one is telling the truth. Janet has sworn blind that she wasn't the one to betray me, and I believe her.
See also: blind, swear
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

swear blind

BRITISH or

swear up and down

AMERICAN
If someone swears blind that something is true, they insist that they are telling you the truth. He swore blind that he hadn't taken the money. He swears blind that he bears no grudges against Manchester United for sacking him, but I don't know if I believe him.
See also: blind, swear
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

swear blind

affirm something in an emphatic manner. British informal
A North American variant of this expression is swear up and down .
See also: blind, swear
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

swear ˈblind (that)...

(informal) say that something is definitely true: She swore blind that she had not taken the money, and I believe her.
See also: swear
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • give (one) (one's) head
  • give head
  • give somebody their head
  • give someone their head
  • 1FTR
  • drive (one) out of office
  • force (one) out of office
  • force out of office
  • cooking for one
  • as one door closes, another opens
References in periodicals archive
I'M sorry, I could swear blind that I read in the Mirror this week about a bloke growing an ear on his arm.
'ANDY EARHOL
You could swear blind that the bus carrying you from the Visitor Centre is about to crash into the mountainside when it veers sharply left before popping mole-like into the mouth of a huge tunnel, and steeply downhill deep inside the mountain.
Plugged into Welsh fare; food&drink OUT FOR A BITE
An old bus seat was popped into the back, then all you had to do was swear blind to your insurer that the van hadn't been modified for ultra-cheap cover.
PERFECT PARTNER; Peugeot van has best of both worlds
An owner who'll swear blind he didn't back it even though it shortened from 66-1 to 10-1.
RESULT!: 10 identikit Grand National winners; IN ASSOCIATION WITH betfair.com
My children swear blind they're haunted and won't even pass them, never mind look in.
MY SHOUT
It is accepted that at interviews, candidates will swear blind that the job in question - as a cleaner/clerk/chiropodist - is the pinnacle of their ambition, knowing full well that the opposite might be said at another interview tomorrow.
HONESTY THE BEST POLICY
I would swear blind that I don't put rugby first, ahead of my gorgeous wife Ali and the kids, Olivia and Finley.
RUGBY UNION: Cutting corners will cut my career; Neil Back OUR MAN WITH THE LIONS
In his case if something is not immediately apparent he'll swear blind that it isn't there but instead of carefully sifting, he'll rummage through the contents like a jumble sale enthusiast.
Dorinda McCann
In the dosh-free zone stand the clueless; the fat, bearded virgins always picked last at school games who swear blind every team in every league will be trying their hardest right until the last kick of the season because they are pros and therefore paid to do just that.
SPORTS BETTING: BACK A CITY ROMP
There are late-thirty somethings who swear blind that the best album ever made was Half Man Half Biscuit's Back in the DHSS.
Eisteddfota: Ear buzz: Lament for jewels that were ours
AT THIS time of year a million punters swear blind that the best way to make money is to oppose sides with nothing to play for.
SPORTS BETTING ON SATURDAY: Cash for points is Spain in neck
"There he will meet very peculiar people who will swear blind that there is more to tossing a coin and simply calling heads or tails if he wants to have first choice of innings.
Cricket: Alec should go to Vegas and learn secret of winning the toss of a coin; BATTY DEXTER'S ADVICE TO CAPTAIN STEWART..