An expression somewhat like the last.

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1856.  

        By the powers of mud, old woman,
If I catch your daughter from home,
You’d better believe, I’ll live in the clover,
And enjoy it, I reckon, some.
Yale Lit. Mag., xxi. 171 (Feb.).    

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1857.  We made up a roarin’ great fire, of the biggest kind o’ logs, and we laid out for comfort that night, yeou’d better b’leve.—Putnam’s Mag., ix. 45 (Jan.).

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1857.  I settled his hash, now you’d better believe, quick.—Knick. Mag., xlix. 69 (Jan.).

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1862.  You better believe we’ve been in an awful excitement here sence the news about Banks cum.—‘Letters of Major Jack Downing,’ May 26.

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1872.  See GO OFF THE HANDLE.

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