abbreviation
ISTG
eye-ess-tee-JEE
ISTG (abbreviation) means I swear to God; used in messages to stress that something is true or to signal exasperation. Example: “ISTG I sent that email an hour ago.”
abbreviation
1
slang I swear to God; used in messages to stress that something is true or to signal exasperation.
"ISTG I sent that email an hour ago."
"ISTG if the train is delayed again I am walking."
How to use ISTG
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA texting way of saying "I swear".
When to use it
Slang, texting and social media only. Some readers find the phrase itself irreverent, so avoid it in professional writing entirely.
Memory tip
ISTG usually opens the sentence, and an ISTG if… construction is a threat or a complaint rather than a real conditional.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
ISTG vs IDGAF
ISTG vs FR
Common pairings
ISTG if
ISTG I did
ISTG this
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_____ I sent that email an hour ago.
Etymology
An initialism of "I swear to God", popularised through texting and social media.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for ISTG
See all rhymes for ISTG →Frequently asked questions
What does ISTG mean in a text?
It stands for "I swear to God". Depending on tone it either insists that what follows is true or vents frustration, as in "ISTG this printer hates me".
What is the difference between ISTG and FR?
FR ("for real") confirms or agrees with something, often a reply to someone else. ISTG is a first-person oath about your own statement or feeling, and carries more heat.
Is ISTG rude?
It is casual rather than obscene, but it invokes God, which some people find disrespectful. Keep it to friends and avoid it in work or school writing.
What is the meaning of ISTG?
"ISTG" (abbreviation) means i swear to God; used in messages to stress that something is true or to signal exasperation.
