to goodness

to goodness

Used to emphasize the forcefulness of a particular verb. I hope to goodness you're right! I swear to goodness, I will turn this car around if you two don't knock it off!
See also: goodness
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

to ˈGod/ˈgoodness/ˈHeaven

used after a verb to emphasize a particular hope, wish, etc: I wish to God you’d learn to pay attention!(Some people find the use of God here offensive.)
See also: god, goodness, heaven
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • goodness me
  • my goodness me
  • goodness knows
  • goodness gracious
  • oh my goodness gracious
  • thank goodness
  • Thank goodness!
  • for goodness' sake
  • goodness
  • call around
References in classic literature
The inclination to goodness, is imprinted deeply in the nature of man; insomuch, that if it issue not towards men, it will take unto other living creatures; as it is seen in the Turks, a cruel people, who nevertheless are kind to beasts, and give alms, to dogs and birds; insomuch, as Busbechius reporteth, a Christian boy, in Constantinople, had like to have been stoned, for gagging in a waggishness a long-billed fowl.
This foundation seems metaphysically, methodologically, and explanatorily prior to the accounts of Gilson and Maritain, because art is a virtue, and virtue is related to goodness, and goodness is "divided" into three inseparable modes.
And when we do suffer, fail, or sin, how do we find our way home to goodness? How can we discover our essence?
Aquinas employed two approaches to goodness: nature and participation.
What is needed is a great effort to form consciences and to educate the younger generation to goodness by upholding that integral and fraternal humanism which the church proclaims and promotes.
Radnor Hills Mineral Water Company is launching a new, premium range of soft drinks called Honest to Goodness. The novel product is created from the entirely natural resources of sparkling water from the Heartsease spring and pure fruit juice.
Honest to Goodness represents the positive choice for a healthy lifestyle as it provides light refreshment with no added sugar, alcohol, or artificial ingredients.
Another concept that Aristotle frequently relates to goodness is, not surprisingly, beauty ([TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII.]).(37) The basic distinction he makes between goodness and beauty is that the former is always associated with [TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII.], whereas the latter is found also in motionless things.
The foregoing discussion of order, beauty, and nature in relation to goodness has been far too brief to count as a discussion of these concepts in their own right.