在胸口画十字Crossing Your Heart美国人在胸口画十字是为了表示一定会实现诺言或誓言。在胸口画十字这一手势可追溯到画十字这一宗教传统。现在罗马天主教和东正教的教会里仍然在沿用这一传统。人们相信借助这一宗教传统的力量,在胸口画十字可以使自己免遭厄运,并且也证实自己的誓言是虔诚的。因此有这么一句圣言警句:“我发誓,我宁愿不得好死”,也就是说,如果违背誓言的话。Americans cross their hearts to seal promises or pledges. Crossing the heart goes back to the religious tradition of crossing oneself, which still exists in the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches. It is believed that the gesture provides protection against bad luck by invoking the power of this religious tradition, and thus attests that the speaker‘s pledge is in earnest. Hence, the solemn caution:" Cross my heart and hope to die," that is, if the pledge proves to be false.小贴士pledge: 誓言E.G: give a pledge never to reveal the secret保证决不泄密Roman Catholic: 罗马天主教Orthodox: 东正教attest: 做为或提供某事物的明证E.G: His handling of the crisis attested to his strength of character.他对危机的处理证明了他性格坚强earnest: 认真的, 坚决的solemn: 庄重的, 正式的caution: 警告
With my greatest sincerity and respect,I offer my best and everlasting wish for my dearest mother.I swear that I will create a happy and merry life for you,and that"s what I will do to honor your love.
swear发誓[fā shì]vow; pledge; swear; make an oathvow; pledge; swear; make [take] an oath:他发誓要为烈士报仇。He vowed to avenge martyrs.他们发誓永不分离。They swore never to be separated.这老头说:“我向老天爷发誓, 这不是我干的。 ”“I pledge before God I didn"t do it,” said the old man.
L:But everything has changed all of a sudden. Please, please don"t cry. We"ll do things, we"ll go places, we"ll find a new home. L:But, what about all my things, and the house? H:I"ll take care of all those things. What things, what things do you want specially? L:My record player and my, my records. H:We"ll send for them and in the meantime I can buy you new ones. L:Promise you"ll never leave me. H:Yes, I promise. Cross my heart and hope to die.