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Idioms that refer to what is the fanciful seat of our emotions as well as the factual core of our circulatory system are understandably numerous. Here’s a list of phrases and expressions that include heart and, for the most part, pertain to human feelings.
1. *a big heart*: said of someone kind and loving
2. *after my own heart*: said of someone with similar preferences or values
3. *a heart of gold*: see “a big heart”
4. *a heart of stone*: said of someone without sympathy
5. *all heart*: see “a big heart”; sometimes used sarcastically to mean the opposite
6. *at heart*: basically
7. *bare (one’s) heart*: share one’s feelings or thoughts
8. *bleeding heart*: said of someone who is conspicuously or excessively generous
9. *break (one’s) heart*: cause someone emotional distress
10. *by heart*: from memory
11–13. *capture/steal/win (one’s) heart*: make someone fall in love with one
14–16. *close/dear/near to (one’s) heart*: loved or valued by someone
17. *cross my heart*: said as an oath to assert one’s honesty
18. *didn’t have the heart*: said when one cannot summon the will to do something hurtful
19. *do (one’s) heart good*: said about something that will be beneficial to someone
20. *eat your heart out*: said mockingly to someone expressing the desire for them to suffer; usually facetious
21. *faint of heart*: lacking courage
22–23. *find a way into/to (one’s) heart*: cause someone to fall in love with one
24. *find it in (one’s) heart*: have the compassion or courage to do something
25. *follow (one’s) heart*: do what one loves rather than what is expected of one
26. *from the heart*: with sincerity
27–28. *gladden the/(one’s) heart*: make someone happy or gratified
29. *harden (one’s) heart*: become callous
30. *have (one’s) heart set on*: be obsessed with obtaining
31. *have (one’s) (best) interests at heart*: be doing something for someone else’s benefit
32. *heart goes out to*: said in regard to feeling sympathy for someone
33. *heart in (one’s) mouth*: said of someone who has strong emotions about someone or something
34. *heart is in the right place*: said of someone well intentioned
35. *heart of the matter*: essence
36. *hearts and minds*: said in reference to persuading rather than compelling
37. *heart’s desire*: what one wishes deeply for
38. *heart skips a beat*: said of someone excited, frightened, or surprised
39. *heavy heart*: sadness
40–41. *from the bottom/depths of (one’s) heart*: profoundly
42. *in (one’s) heart of hearts*: if one’s true feelings or thoughts were known
43. *know (one’s) heart*: be aware of one’s true feelings
44. *lose heart*: become discouraged
45–46. *matters/affairs of the heart*: said of something pertaining to a love affair
47. *melt (one’s) heart*: cause someone to experience uncontrollable emotions
48. *nearly gave (one) a heart attack*: caused someone to feel anxiety or fear
49. *(one’s) heart bleeds for*: one is sympathetic
50. *(one’s) heart is knocking*: said of someone excited or nervous
51. *(one’s) heart is not in*: one does not feel a commitment to or an interest in
52. *(one’s) heart leaps*: one is excited
53. *(one’s) heart melts*: see “melt someone’s heart”
54. *(one’s) heart sinks*: one becomes discouraged
55. *open (one’s) heart*: show generosity or kindness
56–57. *out of the goodness/kindness of (one’s) heart*: because of generosity or goodwill
58. *pour (one’s) heart/soul out*: see “bare (one’s) heart”
59. *put (one’s) heart into*: do something with conviction or enthusiasm
60. *sick at heart*: discouraged
61–62. *strike fear into (one’s) heart/into the heart of (one)*: cause someone to be afraid
63. *take heart*: be encouraged
64. *take (something) to heart*: be affected by something
65. *to (one’s) heart’s content*: to the extent one desires
66. *warm (one’s)/the cockles of (one’s) heart*: cause someone to feel positive emotion
67. *wear (one’s) heart on (one’s) sleeve*: openly show one’s emotions
68. *with a sinking heart*: said of someone who becomes discouraged or hopeless
69. *with all (one’s) heart*: with great enthusiasm
70. *young at heart*: youthful
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