http://www.word-detective.com/2011/05/double-cross/ Semper Ubi Sub Ubi Wed, 20 Mar 2013 19:32:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.word-detective.com/2011/05/double-cross/comment-page-1/#comment-45723 David Leonard Sun, 25 Nov 2012 15:41:20 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=4851#comment-45723 I believe that , in order to find the true origin of the expression "double-cross" one need look no further than the old expression "cross my heart",as in "cross my heart and hope to die", to indicate that the person is telling the truth. Perhaps to "cross one's heart" twice (secretly)lets one off the hook. I remember as a child, when purposely telling a lie, the practice of holding both hands behind my back with fingers 3 and 4 of each hand crossed, apparently thus avoiding consequent death or other punishment for the lie. Just a thought I believe that , in order to find the true origin of the expression “double-cross” one need look no further than the old expression “cross my heart”,as in “cross my heart and hope to die”, to indicate that the person is telling the truth. Perhaps to “cross one’s heart” twice (secretly)lets one off the hook. I remember as a child, when purposely telling a lie, the practice of holding both hands behind my back with fingers 3 and 4 of each hand crossed, apparently thus avoiding consequent death or other punishment for the lie. Just a thought

]]> http://www.word-detective.com/2011/05/double-cross/comment-page-1/#comment-20078 Topi Linkala Sun, 03 Jul 2011 08:45:55 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=4851#comment-20078 I always thought that it was double-agents that double-cross. I always thought that it was double-agents that double-cross.

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