Where did the expression "I cross my Heart" originate", and what was it's original meaning?

Question

I think it means :I'm telling the truth", but some of the other students in my ASL class say differently. I hope that someone is able to settle this debate before the holidays as school ends on Dec 20th and most of the students won't be in the next semester. Thank you

Answer 1

To "cross my heart" means to "make the sign of the cross" [=the cross of Jesus Christ] on oneself. That ancient sign is often used as a prayer or simple act of piety, to declare that one IS a Christian.

Such religious signs (including touching some sacred object symbolic of a connection with God) are also common in religious vows or oaths.

Now note that an oath often lists or suggest some sort of judgment (or 'curse') that should take place if the speaker breaks the oath. That's where the "and hope to die" comes from. It means "I hope/may I die IF I am telling a lie."

Observe that since GOD was called on, whether by word or symbolic action or both, to LIE or break a promise made with an oath is to dishonor God. Thus HE is called on to judge the oath-breaker for dishonoring him in this way.

In other words, the sense of the whole oath could be expressed this way:

"I swear by the cross of Christ (and I make this sign to solemnly acknowledge that I belong to Christ through his death for me on a cross) that this is true, and may he judge me by taking my life if what I say is a lie."

Answer 2

Crossing Your Heart
Sometimes people assure others that they are telling the truth by saying "Cross my heart and hope to die" while making a cross over the heart. In ancient folklore the heart was considered the seat of wisdom and therefore a witness to the fact that the person was not lying.

Answer 3

It does mean you're telling the truth. We used to say, "I cross my heart and hope to die.". Meaning we hoped to die if we were lying. (It was a very serious thing to say back in grade school.) But I don't know where it comes from. You get a star, because I want to know too. Good luck.

ps. What do your friends think it means?

Answer 4

It came from the affect that if you were lying that they can take your cross (take your faith) and that you would die (and if you die without your faith/cross you go to hell), its another way of saying that id spend all eternity in Hell if i was lying, so like you say im telling the truth or else