English Reference
Idiom idiom

swear off


To quit or cease completely, or to promise to quit, as a bad habit.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

I decided to swear off sugar for a month.

CONTEXTUAL

After feeling tired for weeks, he decided to swear off caffeine to improve his sleep quality.

COMPLEX

Following the doctor's stern warning about his health, he finally swore off his lifelong habit of smoking.


Related idioms1entry
  1. 01

    swear by

    To trust wholeheartedly.

Last updated August 10, 2026