Heart-related Idioms
The heart. It’s more than just a vital organ; it’s a symbol of our deepest emotions, desires, and motivations. Unsurprisingly, the English language is brimming with idioms that use the heart to express a wide range of feelings. So, let’s dive into this emotional treasure chest and discover how heart-related idioms can enrich your communication!
List of Heart-related Idioms
- From the bottom of one’s heart
- To have a change of heart
- To wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve
- To have a heart of gold
- To take someone to heart
- To set one’s heart on something
- To know something by heart
- To break someone’s heart
- To lose heart
- To follow one’s heart
- To take heart
- To have a heart-to-heart
- To win someone’s heart
- To have a heart of stone
- To have a heavy heart
- To learn something by heart
- A Broken Heart
- With a Heavy Heart
- Win Hands Down
- Butterflies in Your Stomach
- Speak from the Heart
Heart-related Idioms with Meaning and Examples
From the bottom of one’s heart
- Meaning: With genuine sincerity or deep feeling.
- Example: She thanked him from the bottom of her heart for his kindness.
To have a change of heart
- Meaning: To change one’s opinion or attitude about something.
- Example: After hearing her explanation, he had a change of heart about firing her.
To wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve
- Meaning: To openly show one’s emotions or feelings.
- Example: Unlike his reserved colleagues, he wears his heart on his sleeve and is not afraid to express his emotions.
To have a heart of gold
- Meaning: To be very kind, generous, and compassionate.
- Example: Despite his tough exterior, he has a heart of gold and is always willing to help others.
To take someone to heart
- Meaning: To take something seriously or to be deeply affected by it.
- Example: She took his criticism to heart and spent days dwelling on it.
To set one’s heart on something
- Meaning: To desire something strongly or to have one’s sights set on achieving a particular goal.
- Example: She has set her heart on studying abroad, and nothing will deter her from pursuing it.
To know something by heart
- Meaning: To have something memorized thoroughly.
- Example: She knew the poem by heart and could recite it flawlessly.
To break someone’s heart
- Meaning: To cause someone deep emotional pain or sorrow.
- Example: It broke her heart when her childhood friend moved away without saying goodbye.
To lose heart
- Meaning: To become discouraged or disheartened.
- Example: Despite numerous setbacks, she refused to lose heart and continued pursuing her dreams.
To follow one’s heart
- Meaning: To do what one feels is right or what makes one happy, even if it goes against logic or reason.
- Example: She decided to follow her heart and pursue a career in art, despite her family’s objections.
To take heart
- Meaning: To find encouragement or hope in a difficult situation.
- Example: They took heart from the small victories they achieved along the way.
To have a heart-to-heart
- Meaning: To have a sincere and intimate conversation with someone, usually about personal feelings or issues.
- Example: They had a heart-to-heart discussion about their relationship and resolved their differences.
To win someone’s heart
- Meaning: To gain someone’s affection or love.
- Example: He won her heart with his charming personality and thoughtful gestures.
To have a heart of stone
- Meaning: To be cold, unfeeling, or lacking in compassion.
- Example: Despite her pleas, he remained unmoved, his heart as cold as stone.
To have a heavy heart
- Meaning: To feel deeply sad or burdened by something.
- Example: She had a heavy heart as she said goodbye to her childhood home.
To learn something by heart
- Meaning: To memorize something completely.
- Example: He learned the song lyrics by heart after listening to it repeatedly.
A Broken Heart
- Meaning: Deep emotional pain or sorrow caused by disappointment or loss, especially in love.
- Example: After their breakup, he was left with a broken heart.
With a Heavy Heart
- Meaning: With great sadness or regret.
- Example: She announced her resignation with a heavy heart, as she loved her job.
Win Hands Down
- Meaning: To win easily or decisively.
- Example: He won the debate hands down, as his arguments were the most convincing.
Butterflies in Your Stomach
- Meaning: To feel nervous or anxious, especially in anticipation of something.
- Example: Before her speech, she had butterflies in her stomach.
Speak from the Heart
- Meaning: To speak sincerely or genuinely, expressing one’s true feelings.
- Example: When giving a speech, it’s important to speak from the heart to connect with the audience.
Heart-related idioms are a powerful tool for expressing a vast range of emotions. So, the next time you want to communicate with depth and clarity, reach for a heart idiom! It might be the perfect way to paint a vivid picture of what lies within.