Cool MateSwear vs You promise me you won't die
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Swear
InformalTop 2,000 (common)B2verb
You promise me you won't die
Top 2,000 (common)
Most formal: You promise me you won't die
| Swear | You promise me you won't die | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/sweə(r)/","/sweəz/","/swɔː(r)/","/swɔːn/","/ˈsweərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/swer/","/swerz/","/swɔːr/","/swɔːrn/","/ˈswerɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //juː ˈprɒmɪs miː juː wəʊnt daɪ//🇺🇸 //ju ˈprɑːmɪs mi ju woʊnt daɪ// |
| Meaning | To use rude or offensive words. | You say you will not die. |
| Example | I swear to tell the truth in my testimony. | You promise me you won't die during this dangerous mission. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | loudly, quietly, silently, hear somebody, at, solemnly, on oath, under oath, be prepared to, make somebody, by, on, to, be sworn into office, swear somebody to secrecy, swear somebody to silence, solemnly, on oath, under oath, be prepared to, make somebody, by, on, to, be sworn into office, swear somebody to secrecy, swear somebody to silence, solemnly, on oath, under oath, be prepared to, make somebody, by, on, to, be sworn into office, swear somebody to secrecy, swear somebody to silence, solemnly, on oath, under oath, be prepared to, make somebody, by, on, to, be sworn into office, swear somebody to secrecy, swear somebody to silence | promise not to die, make a promise, serious promise |
| Antonyms | praise, compliment | - |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'swear' with 'promise' — they have different meanings., Using it in formal writing where it's not acceptable., Using 'swear to' instead of 'swear at' when expressing anger. | Omitting 'you' in the promise structure., Using wrong verb forms, like saying 'promised' instead of 'promise'. |
| Usage notes | Used in informal settings to express anger or frustration. Often considered inappropriate in formal contexts. Be cautious of the audience and setting before using. | Used in serious conversations. Not typically used in casual or light-hearted contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Swear vs You promise me you won't die
What's the difference between Swear and You promise me you won't die?
Swear: To use rude or offensive words. You promise me you won't die: You say you will not die.
Which is more formal: Swear and You promise me you won't die?
You promise me you won't die is the most formal of these.
Can you show an example of each?
Swear: I swear to tell the truth in my testimony. You promise me you won't die: You promise me you won't die during this dangerous mission.
Can I use Swear and You promise me you won't die interchangeably?
Not always. Swear and You promise me you won't die are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.