So help me God
Hi, Some dictionaries and Wikipedia have defines or explain the meaning and usage of "So help me God". I wonder why so help me is relevant to oath.
Is it a inversion? I mean "God, help me so"? What does "so" mean here? What does the speaker "I" ask God to help?
Thanks!
Top answer
It isn't just for oaths. It's a pat phrase that indicates the speaker is serious about what he is saying. " If that is the case, the "so" here would have the meaning of "thus".
- It isn't just for oaths.
- It's a pat phrase that indicates the speaker is serious about what he is saying.
- " If that is the case, the "so" here would have the meaning of "thus".
- Again, it's a pat phrase and native speakers generally don't know where it comes from or how each word functions.
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It isn't just for oaths. It's a pat phrase that indicates the speaker is serious about what he is saying.
"Don't you speak to me that way, Marissa, so help me ***!"
Some source indicate that it is an abbreviated form of the phrase "So may *** help me at the judgment day if I speak true, but if I speak false, then may He withdraw His help from me." If that is the case, the "so" he
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