Idioms

absence makes the heart grow fonder

1. (saying) used to say that when you are away from somebody that you love, you love them even more

at heart

1. used to say what somebody is really like even though they may seem to be something different
   • He's still a socialist at heart.

be etched on your heart/memory/mind

1. if something is etched on your heart, memory, etc. you remember it because it has made a strong impression on you

break somebody’s heart

1. to make somebody feel very unhappy
   • She broke his heart when she called off the engagement.
   • It breaks my heart to see you like this.

by heart

(British English also off by heart)

1. using only your memory
   • I've seen the show so often I know all the songs by heart.
   • She's learnt the whole speech off by heart.

a change of heart

1. if you have a change of heart, your attitude towards something changes, usually making you feel more friendly, helpful, etc.
   • Dan did not want to get married but recently he’s had a change of heart.
   • He said he's not coming, but he might have a change of heart.

close/dear/near to somebody’s heart

1. having a lot of importance and interest for somebody

cross my heart (and hope to die)

1. (informal) used to emphasize that you are telling the truth or will do what you promise
   • I saw him do it—cross my heart.

eat your heart out!

1. (informal) used to compare two things and say that one of them is better
   • Look at him dance! Eat your heart out, Fred Astaire (= he dances even better than Fred Astaire).

find it in your heart/yourself to do something

1. (literary) to be able or willing to do something
   • Can you find it in your heart to forgive her?
   • He couldn't find it in himself to trust anyone again.

from the (bottom of your) heart

1. in a way that is sincere
   • I beg you, from the bottom of my heart, to spare his life.
   • It was clearly an offer that came from the heart.
   • I could tell he spoke from the heart.

give somebody (fresh) heart

1. to make somebody feel positive, especially when they thought that they had no chance of achieving something

give your heart to somebody

1. to give your love to one personTopics Feelingsc2

have a heart!

1. (informal) used to ask somebody to be kind and/or reasonable
   • Have a heart! I’ve nowhere else to stay!

have a heart of gold

1. to be a very kind personTopics Personal qualitiesc2

have a heart of stone

1. to be a person who does not show other people sympathy

have somebody’s interests at heart

1. to want somebody to be happy and successful even though your actions may not show this
   • Although he was sometimes too strict with his children, he had their best interests at heart.
   Topics Successc2

have/hold a place in somebody's heart

1. to be very dear to somebody
   • He'll always have a place in my heart.

heart and soul

1. with a lot of energy and enthusiasm
   • They threw themselves heart and soul into the project.

my heart bleeds (for somebody)

1. (ironic) used to say that you do not feel sympathy for somebody
   • ‘I have to go to Brazil on business.’ ‘My heart bleeds for you!’

your heart goes out to somebody

1. used to say that you feel a lot of sympathy for somebody
   • Our hearts go out to the families of the victims.

somebody’s heart is in their mouth

1. somebody feels nervous or frightened about something
   • My heart was in my mouth as I opened the envelope.
   Topics Feelingsc2

somebody’s heart is in the right place

1. used to say that somebody’s intentions are kind and sincere even though they sometimes do the wrong thing

your heart is not in something

1. used to say that you are not very interested in or enthusiastic about something
   • Her heart isn't in her job.

somebody’s heart leaps

1. used to say that somebody has a sudden feeling of happiness or excitement
   • My heart leapt at the news.
   • Her heart leaped with joy.
   Topics Feelingsc2

somebody’s heart misses/skips a beat

1. used to say that somebody has a sudden feeling of fear, excitement, etc.
   • My heart missed a beat when I saw who it was.

somebody’s heart sinks

1. used to say that somebody suddenly feels sad or depressed about something
   • My heart sank when I saw how much work there was left.
   • She watched him go with a sinking heart.

home is where the heart is

1. (saying) a home is where the people you love are

in good heart

1. (British English) happy and cheerfulTopics Feelingsc2

in your heart (of hearts)

1. if you know something in your heart, you have a strong feeling that it is true
   • She knew in her heart of hearts that she was making the wrong decision.
   • In my heart, I knew it wasn't true.

it does somebody’s heart good (to do something)

1. it makes somebody feel happy when they see or hear something
   • It does my heart good to see the old place being taken care of so well.

let your heart rule your head

1. to act according to what you feel rather than to what you think is sensible

lose heart

1. to stop hoping for something or trying to do something because you no longer feel confident

lose your heart (to somebody/something)

1. (formal) to fall in love with somebody/somethingTopics Feelingsc2

a man/woman after your own heart

1. a man/woman who likes the same things or has the same opinions as youTopics Opinion and argumentc2

not have the heart (to do something)

1. to be unable to do something because you know that it will make somebody sad or upset

off by heart (British English)

(also by heart British and North American English)

1. using only your memory
   • She's learnt the whole speech off by heart.
   • I've seen the show so often I know all the songs by heart.

out of the goodness of your heart

1. because of kind feelings, without thinking about what advantage there will be for you
   • You're not telling me he offered to lend you the money out of the goodness of his heart?

pour out/open your heart to somebody

1. to tell somebody all your problems, feelings, etc.
   • Finally, he broke down in tears and poured out his heart to her.

set your heart on something | have your heart set on something

1. to want something very much
   • They’ve set their heart on a house in the country.

sick at heart

1. (formal) very unhappy or disappointedTopics Feelingsc2

sob your heart out

1. to cry noisily for a long time because you are very sad
   • She flung herself at his chest and sobbed her heart out.

steal somebody’s heart

1. (literary) to make somebody fall in love with youTopics Feelingsc2

strike fear, etc. into somebody/sb’s heart

1. (formal) to make somebody be afraid, etc.
   • The sound of gunfire struck fear into the hearts of the villagers.

take heart (from something)

1. to feel more positive about something, especially when you thought that you had no chance of achieving something
   • The government can take heart from the latest opinion polls.

take something to heart

1. to be very upset by something that somebody says or does
   • You shouldn’t take everything he says to heart.

tear at your heart | tear your heart out

1. (formal) to strongly affect you in an emotional way

tear/rip the heart out of something

1. to destroy the most important part or aspect of something
   • Closing the factory tore the heart out of the community.

to your heart’s content

1. as much as you want
   • a supervised play area where children can run around to their heart’s content

warm the cockles (of somebody’s heart)

1. (British English) to make somebody feel happy or sympathetic
   • Doesn’t that story just warm the cockles of your heart?

the way to somebody’s heart

1. the way to make somebody like or love you
   • The way to a man's heart is through his stomach (= by giving him good food).

wear your heart on your sleeve

1. to allow your feelings to be seen by other people
   • He’s not one to wear his heart on his sleeve.

what the eye doesn’t see (the heart doesn’t grieve over)

1. (saying) if a person does not know about something that they would normally think was bad, then it cannot hurt them
   • What does it matter if I use his flat while he’s away? What the eye doesn’t see…!

win somebody’s heart

1. to make somebody love youTopics Feelingsc2

with all your heart/your whole heart

1. completely
   • I hope with all my heart that things work out for you.
   • I wish you well with all my heart.

young at heart

1. thinking and behaving like a young person even when you are old
   • My father is 76 but he’s still young at heart.
   • He's over 70, but he's young at heart.