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.
WORDS
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
E.G: let sb off with a caution
