Well, I swan

Posted by David FG on June 23, 2010 at 04:39

In Reply to: Well, I swan posted by ESC on June 22, 2010 at 12:02:

: : Is 'I swan' an American phrase? I've come across it in US literature a couple of times recently but have not heard it before it the UK.

: Yep. References say it stands for "I swear." I (born and raised in West Virginia) use it myself occasionally.

Where does it come from - and why? Surely even the most puritanical can't object to the word 'swear' itself (as opposed to any instance of it).

DFG