swear out
Related to swear out: sweat out
swear out
1. Of a police officer, to make a written declaration under oath in the presence of an authorized person, especially to use as evidence or in order to obtain a warrant. The disgraced cop admitted to swearing out false affidavits to confound investigations in return for bribes from the notorious crime syndicate. The judge swore out a warrant to search the suspect's home, but it was never served by police.
2. To issue a litany of profane language as a reprimand or attack against someone. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "swear" and "out." He stood there swearing out the driver that nearly backed into his car. The boss swore me out for a good five minutes for messing up the accounts so badly.
See also: out, swear
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
swear out
Obtain a warrant for arrest by making a charge under oath, as in The school principal swore out a warrant for the arrest of the vandals. [Late 1800s]
See also: out, swear
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
swear out
v.
To obtain some warrant for arrest by making a charge under oath: The victims swore out a warrant against their attacker.
See also: out, swear
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
- swear on
- swear on (someone or something)
- Scout's honour
- for (one's) eyes only
- for somebody's eyes only
- pill peddler
- pill pusher
- pill roller
- pill-peddler
- pill-pusher