In several American films and T.V. shows I have heard a phrase used that has left me puzzled. I have had no luck in Googling the answer because having only heard the phrase spoken and never written down I have no idea how to spell it.
My best guess at spelling of the phrase would be “onus dintion”, I am sure that isn’t how it is spelled but that is how it sounds to me. The phrase seems to mean ‘I swear’ or ‘I promise’.
So, can anyone tell me what the phrase actually is and possibly it’s origins (if it isn’t obvious).
I think the phrase would be “honest injun” or, without the accent honest indian. Note, that “injun” is considered derogatory now. This was probably classic movies you saw the phrase in, wasn’t it?
I think you mean “honest Indian”, where “Indian” is usually pronounced “Injun”. I’m not sure of the origin of the phrase, except that it’s quite old. It does have the sense you interpreted, as an oath of honesty.
Thanks, that is certainly the phrase I have heard being used. Oddly the programs and films I have heard it in weren’t classic by any means. I heard Bruce Willis say it this morning on an episode of Moonlighting (I know this show is relatively old) which prompted this question and I also remember hearing Shannon Elizabeth say it on ‘Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back’.
IIRC, Bruce Willis’ character in Moonlighting was fond of old movies though, wasn’t he? Wasn’t it Humphrey Bogart, and Casablanca that he was fond of? I believe Judy Garland used the phrase in some of her films as well. He (the character) also would have grown up using the phrase as a child to promise things, and to attest to their truth as well. The phrase was in use when I was a child in the seventies, but not widely. (Could have been a remnant too, and the rest of the country had phased it out.) As far as why it was used in the Jay and Silent Bob movie, I’m unsure.