swear out
C1 formal separable transitive
In simple words
To go to the police or a court and officially accuse someone by signing a sworn statement so they can be arrested.
Literal meaning: To swear something out — to formally produce a legal document through the act of swearing an oath.
Meanings
1 C1
idiomatic
formal
To obtain an arrest warrant or formal legal complaint by making a sworn statement before an official.
"The victim swore out a warrant for her ex-partner's arrest after he threatened her."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Almost exclusively a legal/law enforcement term. Most commonly heard in the phrase 'swear out a warrant' or 'swear out a complaint.' Primarily American English; rare in everyday speech.
Commonly used with
warrant complaint arrest warrant affidavit charges
Forms
Base
swear out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
swears out
he/she/it
Past simple
sweared out
yesterday
Past participle
sweared out
have + pp
-ing form
swearing out
continuous
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Synonyms
file a warrant obtain a warrant issue a complaint lodge a sworn complaint
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