指ゆび切きりげんまん、嘘うそついたら針はり千せん本ぼん飲のます

expression

pinky swear rhyme; cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye

A children's rhyme recited while making a pinky swear (指切り). The literal meaning is a threat: if you lie, you must drink a thousand needles. Used playfully to seal a promise.

See also: 指切り

• 「指ゆび切きりげんまん、嘘うそついたら針はり千せん本ぼん飲のます！」と子こ供どもたちが約やく束そくを交かわした。

  The children made a promise, reciting, "Cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye!"

• 別わかれ際ぎわ、二人ふたりは「指ゆび切きりげんまん、嘘うそついたら針はり千せん本ぼん飲のます」と小こ指ゆびを絡からめた。

  As they parted, the two linked pinkies and recited the full pinky-swear rhyme.