4 ms·

It's an oath, isn't it? So literally, at least, it is swearing.

• coldtea 10y ago
  http://images-cdn.9gag.com/photo/a5PmrLq_700b.jpg http://images-cdn.9gag.com/photo/a5PmrLq_700b.jpg (Or that would be, if it even was an oath. But "Oh my god" is NOT an oath. "On my God", or "In the name of my god" would be that).
  • danellis 10y ago
    Oh, really? I thought it was the "_my_ God" part that was swearing an oath.
    • coldtea 10y ago
      Not every phrase with "my god" in it is an oath. Unless if you swear (promise to do something) to your god (or on your god's name). OMG is not that different from "oh man!" in use. It's for surprise. How does "swearing an oath" would be related to being surprised?
      • danellis 10y ago
        I see "Oh, _my_ God" as a statement of allegiance, as opposed to just, say, "Oh, God."
        • coldtea 10y ago
          I see. I see it more as kind of call (in a "vocative case"). In the sense that you find something surprising, and ask for your God (as when you fear something, etc).