English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
Mark my words
Meaning
The idiom "mark my words" is used to express a warning or a statement that will be important later. It means something very serious, especially if it involves legal or financial consequences. When someone says "mark my words," they are emphasizing the importance of what they are saying and making it clear that they expect their listener to remember what they said.
Usage
- "If you don't start doing your homework now, I'm going to mark my words - you're going to fail this class."
- "I told her she needed to save more money for retirement, and I marked my words - if she doesn't, she's going to be in trouble later."
- "He said he wasn't going to sell his company, but I marked my words - one day, it was sold for millions of dollars."
- "I warned her not to take the job offer from that shady company, and I marked my words - they went bankrupt soon after."
- "If you keep drinking like this, you're going to mark my words - your liver will fail you before you turn 30."
Roots and History
The idiom "mark my words" has been in use since at least the early 19th century. The earliest known usage of the phrase is found in a collection of Scottish proverbs from 1846, where it was written as "mark my word, I am bound to do it." However, the idiom quickly gained popularity in other parts of the world and became a common expression in English-speaking cultures. Over time, the meaning of the phrase has evolved slightly. In its early days, "mark my words" was used primarily to express a warning or a promise that would be important later. Today, it is often used more broadly to emphasize the importance of something and make it clear that the speaker expects their listener to remember what they said.
Synonyms in English
- Remember this!
- Trust me, I won't forget.
- Don't say I didn't warn you!
- You can count on it!
- Believe me!
Synonyms in other languages
- Spanish: "Recuerda esto!"
- French: "S'il vous plaît, ne oubliez pas cela!"
- German: "Vergess nicht, was ich sage."
- Italian: "Non dimenticherò di questo!"
- Dutch: "Beark my woorden, het is er niet aan terugkeren."