Bible



Bible-basher

1. A derogatory term for a person who uses his or her Christian beliefs or Bible passages to try to influence others' opinions. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. After Mary started spending more time with her church's youth group, her friends from school began to complain that she had become a bit of a Bible-basher.
2. A person who does not approve of the Bible or Christianity. Tired of Bill harassing her about her Christian faith, Joan finally said to him, "You don't have to be a Christian, but I refuse to stay friends with such an intolerant Bible-basher as yourself."

Bible-thumper

A derogatory term for a person who uses his or her Christian beliefs or Bible passages to try to influence others' opinions. Primarily heard in US. After Mary started spending more time with her church's youth group, her friends from school began to complain that she had become a bit of a Bible-thumper

swear on a stack of Bibles

 and swear on one's mother's grave
to state something very earnestly, pledging to tell the truth. (~ a Stack of Bibles refers in an exaggerated way to swearing to tell the truth in court by placing one's hand on a Bible.) I swear on a stack of Bibles that I am telling the truth. Of course, I'm telling the truth. I swear on my mother's grave!
See also: Bible, of, on, stack, swear

a Bible-basher

  (British & Australian informal) also a Bible-thumper (mainly American informal)
an insulting way of describing someone who tries very hard to persuade other people to believe in Christianity I have nothing against religion, but I hate Bible-bashers.

the Bible Belt

the southern and central area of the United States, where many people have very strong traditional Christian beliefs Country music is very popular in the Bible Belt.
See also: belt, Bible

Bible belt

An area noted for religious fundamentalism; specifically, parts of the American South and Midwest. For example, You wouldn't dare try to sell a sex manual in the Bible belt. This term alludes to the prevalence of evangelical revivals, strict morals, belief in the literal truth of the Bible, and similar traits. [c. 1920]
See also: belt, Bible

swear on a stack of Bibles

Promise solemnly that what one is about to say is true, as in I swear on a stack of Bibles that I had nothing to do with his dropping out. This term alludes to the practice of placing one's hand on a sacred object while taking an oath, which dates from the mid-10th century. It is still followed in courts of law where a witness being sworn to tell the truth places a hand on the Bible. [Mid-1800s]
See also: Bible, of, on, stack, swear

swear on a stack of Bibles

in. to make a very solemn pledge of one’s honesty. (Folksy. Official oaths are sometimes taken with one hand on a Bible. This phrase implies that more Bibles make an even stronger oath.) I swear on a stack of Bibles that I was in Atlanta on the night of January sixteenth.
See also: Bible, of, on, stack, swear

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Small[smɔ:l]
Styliani-Greek
NicholasNIK-ə-ləs (English), nee-ko-LAH (French)English, French
Adeliaə-DEL-ee-ə (English)English, Spanish
Crocker['krɔkə]
MarshaMAHR-shəEnglish