0
Akdom Posted 17 years ago
Vocabulary
So help me God !
People often say "so help me God" in TV shows, sometimes it's at the end of an oath. Other times, they use it in a different manner, at lease that's how I felt.
I uploaded a video clip here: http://akdomecho.wordpress.com/2009/05/23/test-1/
Please watch this 58 sec clip, the phrase is at the end of the clip (00:53), and tell me what does it mean? I know it must comes natural to you guys, but I want get to the bottom of this: Why do people often say it? What's the origin of this phrase?
Here is the transcript:
TRACY: This is better than a family. No one around here asks me for my damn bone marrow.
JACK: Why don’t we make this easy on ourselves and renew your existing contract with a 3% increase?
TRACY: sorry it took me so long to answer. I was just thinking about how weird it is that we eat birds.
JACK: All right, we have a deal. You see how easy negotiating can be when it’s not really about money.
TRACY: how’s this really not about money?
JACK: Obviously you don’t need to work.
TRACY: What’s that now, Charles?
JACK: I’m just saying you made $300 million last year, so there’s no financial need for you to continue with the show, but…
TRACY: I never thought of it like that. Thank you. I quit. Goodbye.
JACK: Had he really not put that together?
DotCOM: Tracy’s is a tactile kinesthetic learning style.
JACK: Dotcom, So help me god…
I uploaded a video clip here: http://akdomecho.wordpress.com/2009/05/23/test-1/
Please watch this 58 sec clip, the phrase is at the end of the clip (00:53), and tell me what does it mean? I know it must comes natural to you guys, but I want get to the bottom of this: Why do people often say it? What's the origin of this phrase?
Here is the transcript:
TRACY: This is better than a family. No one around here asks me for my damn bone marrow.
JACK: Why don’t we make this easy on ourselves and renew your existing contract with a 3% increase?
TRACY: sorry it took me so long to answer. I was just thinking about how weird it is that we eat birds.
JACK: All right, we have a deal. You see how easy negotiating can be when it’s not really about money.
TRACY: how’s this really not about money?
JACK: Obviously you don’t need to work.
TRACY: What’s that now, Charles?
JACK: I’m just saying you made $300 million last year, so there’s no financial need for you to continue with the show, but…
TRACY: I never thought of it like that. Thank you. I quit. Goodbye.
JACK: Had he really not put that together?
DotCOM: Tracy’s is a tactile kinesthetic learning style.
JACK: Dotcom, So help me god…
Top answer
The phrase 'so help me ***' has its origins in English law. A witness today can affirm or swear an oath on the Bible. In a more religious age, people believed that *** would punish somebody who swore a false oath.
- The phrase 'so help me ***' has its origins in English law.
- A witness today can affirm or swear an oath on the Bible.
- In a more religious age, people believed that *** would punish somebody who swore a false oath.
- Also, a person could not be charged with perjury unless they had sworn the legally binding oath.
- The 'so help me' part may come from the ancient legal practice of 'oath-helping'.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
6 Answers
0
The phrase 'so help me ***' has its origins in English law. A witness today can affirm or swear an oath on the Bible. In a more religious age, people believed that *** would punish somebody who swore a false oath. Also, a person could not be charged with perjury unless they had sworn the legally binding oath.
The 'so help me' part may come from the ancient legal practice of 'oath-help
The 'so help me' part may come from the ancient legal practice of 'oath-help
00
Thank you for your great response. But in the context of the video clip, I think it means something else, does it? Because, I don't see anything "oath" related in the video.
00
My best guess is that 'dotcom' refers to the setting up of a web site, a 'dot com' site, and that the character is saying, 'between the lines':
"That's a great idea for a web site, and that's the truth."
So you see, 'so help me ***' is a way of emphasising the idea of fact or truth in any statement.
"That's a great idea for a web site, and that's the truth."
So you see, 'so help me ***' is a way of emphasising the idea of fact or truth in any statement.
00
I watched the clip and the use of "so help me ***" doesn't really make any sense other than as a humorous comment, a kind of mild threat directed at DotCOM. Is there some additional context, perhaps an earlier exchange between Tracy, Jack, and DotCOM that is omitted from the clip you posted?
00
I agree - it's the start of a mild threat, probably directed at Dot Com but perhaps just to the world at large.
So help me ***...iif you say another word I am going to wring your neck!
or, ...I'm going to go insane if I have to keep working here!
Jack's lifted forefinger makes me think it's a threat for Dot Com, though.
Threats don't really have t
So help me ***...iif you say another word I am going to wring your neck!
or, ...I'm going to go insane if I have to keep working here!
Jack's lifted forefinger makes me think it's a threat for Dot Com, though.
Threats don't really have t
00
DelmobileI agree - it's the start of a mild threat, probably directed at Dot Com but perhaps just to the world at large.
So help me ***...iif you say another word I am going to wring your neck!
(Patrick, Dot Com is just the name of a character on the show "30 Rock," which this clip is taken from.
0
Related Questions