Is it wrong to swear on your mothers life.......

[Mr Tall]

or does it depend on what you are lying about and how much trouble you'll be in if you don't.

e.g

me: Honestly I only had one pint.
Missus: Swear on your mothers life.
Me: Ok I had nine.

Or

Lifeandsold: I swear I never slept with my secretary
Lifeandsold's wife: Swear on your mothers life
Lifeandsold: I swear on my mother's knife. Mumbled

[Pippa68]

Many years ago I rather embarrassingly told someone to swear on their mothers life, completely forgetting she had died a couple of years previously.

I have never said it since!

[raysparx1]

I have never said it, better to tell the truth, don't need a good memory then, I like your example though, so you wouldn't say it either then ?

[Mr Tall]

No, my parents are getting old now.

[ummmm1]

My Dad swears on my life all the time and I'm still alive

[devilwoman]

nevr swear on your mothers life, unless you are telling the complete truth.

[whiskeysheri]

What about having your fingers crossed at the same time?

[Mr Tall]

Devilwoman is that what you tell your kids.

[devilwoman]

yes,

[missjef]

not really a proper answer but this made me think of the episode of peep show where Mark lies but he swore on his mother life, and Jeremy says 'but you swore on your mothers life!'.
so Mark just replies with 'so what, what are you going to do? kill her?!'. Made me laugh. i think its just a saying and that theres nothing bad about it really, its just like a superstition.

[mycats]

I refuse to do it. I especially hate when people say "I swear on my childs life" GRRRRRR I wouldnt swear on my childs life even if something was 100% true

[freak_unique]

I totally refuse to do it also, even if i was telling 100% truth...

[crosso]

what type of person would make you swear that? Is it an Irish thing?