Keeping a promise means doing what you say you will do. When someone makes a promise, it builds trust. If they keep that promise, others will believe them more. If they break it, people might feel let down. This is why keeping promises is important, both at home and in school.
People have created many idioms to talk about promises. These are special phrases that help explain what it means to keep or break a promise. You might hear these idioms in books, movies, or everyday talks. They make conversations more fun and easier to understand. In this article, we will learn some common idioms about keeping promises. Each one tells us something special about how people feel when promises are made or broken.
Idioms About Keeping Promises
1. Keep your word
Meaning: Do what you said you would do
Example Sentence:
• He promised to help with homework, and he kept his word.
• She always keeps her word when she makes a promise.
Other ways to say: Honor your promise, stay true to your word
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase comes from the idea that your “word” is your bond.
Usage: Use when someone does what they promised.
2. A man of his word
Meaning: A person who always keeps promises
Example Sentence:
• Dad said he’d come to my game, and he did—he’s a man of his word.
• Uncle Joe is a man of his word. He never breaks a promise.
Other ways to say: Trustworthy, reliable
Fun Fact/Origin: Used long ago to describe knights who kept their oaths.
Usage: Describes someone known for keeping promises.
3. Stick to your guns
Meaning: Stay true to your decision or promise
Example Sentence:
• Even when his friends disagreed, he stuck to his guns.
• She stuck to her guns and didn’t skip practice.
Other ways to say: Stand firm, stay strong
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from battles when soldiers stayed by their cannons.
Usage: When someone doesn’t back down from a promise or decision.
4. Make good on a promise
Meaning: Do what you promised to do
Example Sentence:
• She made good on her promise to take us to the zoo.
• He made good on his word and fixed the bike.
Other ways to say: Follow through, deliver
Fun Fact/Origin: “Make good” means to fulfill or complete something.
Usage: Used when someone fulfills a promise.
5. Swear on something
Meaning: Promise strongly
Example Sentence:
• I swear on my favorite toy I’ll tell the truth.
• He swore on his mom’s cookies he would be on time.
Other ways to say: Promise seriously, take an oath
Fun Fact/Origin: People often used the Bible or other important items to show they meant it.
Usage: When someone is very serious about keeping a promise.
6. Put your money where your mouth is
Meaning: Back up your words with action
Example Sentence:
• If you say you’ll help, put your money where your mouth is.
• He put his money where his mouth was and joined the clean-up crew.
Other ways to say: Prove it, show it
Fun Fact/Origin: Started as a way to challenge people to act, not just talk.
Usage: When someone proves their promise with action.
7. Tie the knot
Meaning: Make a lifelong promise (marriage)
Example Sentence:
• My aunt and uncle tied the knot last summer.
• They tied the knot after dating for five years.
Other ways to say: Get married, say “I do”
Fun Fact/Origin: The phrase comes from old wedding customs where hands were tied together.
Usage: When two people promise to stay together for life.
8. Seal the deal
Meaning: Finalize a promise or agreement
Example Sentence:
• We shook hands to seal the deal.
• The team sealed the deal with a high-five.
Other ways to say: Confirm it, finalize it
Fun Fact/Origin: People used wax seals on letters to show a promise was official.
Usage: When an agreement becomes final.
9. Cross your heart
Meaning: Make a serious promise
Example Sentence:
• I’ll keep your secret—cross my heart!
• Cross your heart and hope to fly?
Other ways to say: Pinky swear, promise deeply
Fun Fact/Origin: Kids often add “and hope to die” for fun (not to be taken literally).
Usage: Used when kids want to show they really mean their promise.
10. Keep faith with
Meaning: Stay loyal to a promise
Example Sentence:
• We kept faith with our friends and finished the group project.
• He kept faith with the team by showing up early.
Other ways to say: Be loyal, stay true
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of “faith” meaning trust or belief.
Usage: When someone stays true even when it’s hard.
11. Live up to your word
Meaning: Do what you said you would
Example Sentence:
• She lived up to her word and helped every day.
• He lived up to his word and brought the snacks.
Other ways to say: Follow through, be dependable
Fun Fact/Origin: This means your actions match your promises.
Usage: Used when someone meets expectations from their promise.
12. Shake on it
Meaning: Agree on a promise with a handshake
Example Sentence:
• They shook on it and traded baseball cards.
• Let’s shake on it—we’ll both do our chores.
Other ways to say: Agree, promise with a handshake
Fun Fact/Origin: Shaking hands has been a sign of trust for centuries.
Usage: When two people agree and want to make it official.
13. On your honor
Meaning: Promise truthfully
Example Sentence:
• In your honor, did you eat the last cookie?
• I’ll be there in my honor.
Other ways to say: I swear, I promise
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea that a person’s honor was very important.
Usage: Often used when someone wants to be believed.
14. Swear up and down
Meaning: Strongly promise
Example Sentence:
• She swore up and down she didn’t break the vase.
• He swore up and down he would bring it tomorrow.
Other ways to say: Insist, vow
Fun Fact/Origin: This is used when people try hard to be believed.
Usage: When someone makes a very strong promise.
15. Word is bond
Meaning: A promise is a serious thing
Example Sentence:
• When I say I’ll do it, I will—word is bond.
• His word is bond. He always follows through.
Other ways to say: My promise is real, you can count on me
Fun Fact/Origin: Popular in hip-hop culture, it means promises should be trusted.
Usage: Used to show a promise will not be broken.
16. Signed, sealed, and delivered
Meaning: Promise or deal is complete
Example Sentence:
• The deal is signed, sealed, and delivered.
• Her promise was signed, sealed, and delivered.
Other ways to say: It’s done, it’s official
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from how mail was prepared in the past.
Usage: Used when something is completely finished.
17. Give your word
Meaning: Make a serious promise
Example Sentence:
• He gave his word he would show up.
• She gave her word and kept it.
Other ways to say: Promise, pledge
Fun Fact/Origin: Saying your word means offering your trust.
Usage: When someone is promising something important.
18. Word of honor
Meaning: Promise that is based on being truthful
Example Sentence:
• I give you my word of honor—it wasn’t me.
• Word of honor, I’ll help you.
Other ways to say: Trust me, honest promise
Fun Fact/Origin: Used to show high respect for truth and trust.
Usage: When someone wants to be believed fully.
19. Take an oath
Meaning: Promise something seriously
Example Sentence:
• The mayor took an oath to serve the city.
• We took an oath to keep the secret.
Other ways to say: Make a vow, swear
Fun Fact/Origin: Oaths are used in court and official jobs.
Usage: Used for serious or formal promises.
20. Pinky swear
Meaning: A promise made by linking pinky fingers
Example Sentence:
• Pinky swear you won’t tell?
• We made a pinky swear to be best friends forever.
Other ways to say: Child’s promise, secret deal
Fun Fact/Origin: Common among kids in the USA
Usage: Used for fun or secret promises.
21. Come through
Meaning: Do what you promised
Example Sentence:
• She came through with the snacks.
• He said he’d help and he came through.
Other ways to say: Deliver, keep your promise
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase shows action, not just words.
Usage: When someone follows through on a promise.
22. Stand by your word
Meaning: Keep your promise
Example Sentence:
• I stand by my word—I’ll help clean the yard.
• He stood by his word and showed up early.
Other ways to say: Be loyal to your promise
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from staying firm in what you said.
Usage: Used when someone doesn’t go back on their word.
23. Walk the talk
Meaning: Do what you said you would
Example Sentence:
• If you say you care, walk the talk.
• She walks the talk and always helps.
Other ways to say: Act on your promise
Fun Fact/Origin: Shows actions matter more than words.
Usage: When someone’s actions match their promises.
24. Back up your promise
Meaning: Support your words with action
Example Sentence:
• He backed up his promise by finishing the project.
• She backed it up by showing up on time.
Other ways to say: Prove it, act on your words
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used when others doubt you
Usage: When someone proves their promise is real.
25. True to your word
Meaning: Always keep your promise
Example Sentence:
• She said she’d help and was true to her word.
• He’s always true to his word.
Other ways to say: Honest, reliable
Fun Fact/Origin: Means you don’t break your word
Usage: Used to describe people who always do what they say.
Quiz: Idioms About Keeping Promises
Instructions: Read each question and the answer choices carefully. Pick the letter that best matches the meaning of the phrase or expression.
Question Key
1. What does “keep your word” mean?
A) Talk a lot
B) Do what you promised
C) Change your mind
2. If someone is “a man of his word,” what are they like?
A) They make jokes
B) They talk too much
C) They keep promises
3. What does “pinky swear” mean?
A) Tell a secret
B) Promise by linking pinky fingers
C) Wave goodbye
4. If someone says “put your money where your mouth is,” what should you do?
A) Spend your money
B) Prove what you said
C) Say something louder
5. What does it mean to “swear up and down”?
A) Jump around
B) Repeat a story
C) Promise strongly
6. When someone “backs up their promise,” what are they doing?
A) Driving backward
B) Showing action to prove their promise
C) Breaking their promise
7. What does “shake on it” usually mean?
A) Make a promise with a handshake
B) Play a game
C) Take a picture
8. If you are “true to your word,” what do you do?
A) Make funny faces
B) Keep your promise
C) Forget what you said
9. What does it mean to “stand by your word”?
A) Talk louder
B) Stay next to someone
C) Stick to what you promised
10. When someone says “walk the talk,” what are they asking?
A) To go for a walk
B) To act on your words
C) To tell a story
Answer Key
- B) Do what you promised
- C) They keep promises
- B) Promise by linking pinky fingers
- B) Prove what you said
- C) Promise strongly
- B) Showing action to prove their promise
- A) Make a promise with a handshake
- B) Keep your promise
- C) Stick to what you promised
- B) To act on your words
Wrapping Up
Keeping promises is important. It shows that someone is honest and dependable. When people use idioms about promises, they help others understand what trust really means. These phrases make speaking and writing more interesting too.
Now that you know these idioms, you can listen for them in shows, books, or conversations. Try using a few in your own writing or speaking. When you keep your word, people will trust you more. That’s something to be proud of.
