take\ one's\ name\ in\ vain

take\ one's\ name\ in\ vain
v. phr.
1. To call upon (God) as a witness to your truth or honesty when you are lying; swear by (God) untruthfully.

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

2. informal To talk about a person or mention his name.

"Did I hear someone taking my name in vain?" asked Bill as he joined his friends.


Словарь американских идиом. — СПб., Изд-во "Лань". . 1997.

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  • take one's name in vain — {v. phr.} 1. To call upon (God) as a witness to your truth or honesty when you are lying; swear by (God) untruthfully. * /You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain./ 2. {informal} To talk about a person or mention his name. * / Did …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • take one's name in vain — {v. phr.} 1. To call upon (God) as a witness to your truth or honesty when you are lying; swear by (God) untruthfully. * /You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain./ 2. {informal} To talk about a person or mention his name. * / Did …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • name in vain, take one's —  Mention one by name. [Facet.] …   A concise dictionary of English slang

  • To take a name in vain — Name Name (n[=a]m), n. [AS. nama; akin to D. naam, OS. & OHG. namo, G. name, Icel. nafn, for namn, Dan. navn, Sw. namn, Goth. nam[=o], L. nomen (perh. influenced by noscere, gnoscere, to learn to know), Gr. o mona, Scr. n[=a]man. [root]267. Cf.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To take one's own course — Take Take, v. t. [imp. {Took} (t[oo^]k); p. p. {Taken} (t[=a]k n); p. pr. & vb. n. {Taking}.] [Icel. taka; akin to Sw. taga, Dan. tage, Goth. t[=e]kan to touch; of uncertain origin.] 1. In an active sense; To lay hold of; to seize with the hands …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • name — See: CALL NAMES, HANDLE TO ONE S NAME, IN NAME, TAKE ONE S NAME IN VAIN, TO ONE S NAME …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • name — See: CALL NAMES, HANDLE TO ONE S NAME, IN NAME, TAKE ONE S NAME IN VAIN, TO ONE S NAME …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • name — See: call names, handle to one s name, in name, take one s name in vain, to one s name …   Словарь американских идиом

  • vain — See: IN VAIN, TAKE ONE S NAME IN VAIN …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • vain — See: IN VAIN, TAKE ONE S NAME IN VAIN …   Dictionary of American idioms

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