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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to think 'swearing on someones life' is just silly and pointless and my that brother is an eejit?

MeRightYouWrongMeBigYouSmall · 2011-03-23T16:07:45+00:00

I never ever use the phrase "I swear on dd's/mums/whoevers life" to confirm that I am telling the truth a) because it's a load of bollox and b) it's pretty much something I'd expect to hear from a bit of an eejit IMO. But, whilst having a bit of banter with my brother I accused him of telling a wee porky pie and he said "I swear on life I am telling the truth", I immediately stopped him and said "erm, swear on whoevers life you want matey but not my dd's" He is now a little bit off with me fgs! Although it's just words and it means nothing, it kinda struck a chord when he mentioned dd - yes she is my first born and she is precious therefore perhaps my PFB [grin] Why am I starting this thread? to ask if AIBU to think that only eejits use this phrase and AIBU to be bothered that he 'swore' on my daughters life What do you think?

16 replies

MeRightYouWrongMeBigYouSmall · 23/03/2011 16:07

OP posts:

bintofbohemia · 23/03/2011 16:14

I dunno, I'm a bit superstitious about this kind of thing to be honest.

AyeRobot · 23/03/2011 16:15

It's usually liars that use that phrase.

pjmama · 23/03/2011 16:15

If you really think it's a load of bollox anyway, why would it bother you?

valiumredhead · 23/03/2011 16:20

I NEVER swear on anyone's life but I have been occasionally known to make ds swear on his hamster's life if I think he's fibbing

I KNOW it's wrong - no one need tell me!

Original poster

MeRightYouWrongMeBigYouSmall · 23/03/2011 16:23

pjmama - that's my quandry!

Why does it bother me if I think it's a load of bollox?

swearing on a hamsters life, now that's bad form

AyeRobot - I concur!

OP posts:

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 23/03/2011 16:24

It's a ridiculous thing to say and it doesn't lend any weight to whether somebody's telling the truth or not.

Original poster

MeRightYouWrongMeBigYouSmall · 23/03/2011 16:38

absolutely LyingWitch

OP posts:

PhillipeFlop · 23/03/2011 16:40

I made my friend swear on her life today. She went too far and swore on EVERYBODY she knows lives (jesus, apostrophe panic)

So anyway, I knew she was telling the truth then and didn't have to murderize her.

Original poster

MeRightYouWrongMeBigYouSmall · 23/03/2011 16:47

PhillipeFlop - cool name btw

If my friend asked me to swear on my life, I'd do it in a heartbeat whether I was lying or not tbh - it means nothing to me, just words.

OP posts:

PhillipeFlop · 23/03/2011 16:48

Yeah. It was only a jokey thing though. So y'know, if I was asking her if she thought my non existent husband was cheating on me, I wouldn't say "swear on my life"

I only said it when I was asking her if she had posted something on MN.

Original poster

MeRightYouWrongMeBigYouSmall · 23/03/2011 16:50

now Phillipe - that's much more interesting, what did she post on MN? And who is she? :)

OP posts:

PhillipeFlop · 23/03/2011 16:52

No can do I'm afraid.

ThreeBubbasAndManyBumps · 23/03/2011 16:59

I'm a teacher and when kids at school were obviously lying to me, I'd ask them to swear on the life of my unborn child - which they never did!! :o (all done in good humour about minor things before the MN jury flame me!! )

kaid100 · 23/03/2011 17:09

It's a common phrase but I've never liked it either. It's fine for someone to swear on their own life, but when they swear on someone else's you wonder how much they value the person they are swearing on.

LittleWhiteWolf · 23/03/2011 17:24

If I hear it, I'm more likely to disbelieve the swearer. In fact I ask them to recind it and if they must swear on something it should not be on someone elses life.

I just irritates me. YANBU

ddubsgirl · 23/03/2011 17:46

it either,swaer on your own life!dh had a run in with his boss last dec,dh was off work as he slipped on ice on way to work and hurt his back,his boss swear he saw dh in asda running past him,at the time it was snowing,the car wasnt working,dh could barely walk let alone run and no way he would have bused down there,yet his boss swaers it was him and swore on his wifes cancer to come back that it was him!

he even said to dp you think in sick in saying that,dh just looked at him and said you say whatever you want but it wasnt me and walked off.

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