Idioms With Neon Red Heart

Idioms With Heart – Learn English Idioms

A green heart made by placing yellow pieces of paper

Are you in the process of learning the English language? If so, you might have come across idioms: a group of words used by native speakers to express their ideas more clearly. This article is about idioms with heart.

Although this group of words makes sentences sound more beautiful and more creative, you may have trouble understanding what they mean, particularly if you only rely on the literal meaning of the words.

Well, it’s time to learn more about these phrases, better known in the English vocabulary as idioms. In this post, we’ll help you learn more about the common idiomatic expressions.

Let’s start with English idioms about the heart.

Unlocking the Meanings and Usage of English Idioms with Heart

Did you know that there are around 25,000 idiomatic expressions in English? Unfortunately, many of these idioms will sound strange to most English learners, particularly because those people who want to learn English as a second language rarely get the chance to use idioms in conversational settings.

On the other hand, native speakers engage in daily conversations, which ultimately help them use and comprehend the figurative meanings of idioms, as well as understand the subtle rules surrounding how these expressions are used in speech.

However, you shouldn’t be discouraged as there are lots of resources on the internet that you can use to find out more about these useful, and often beautiful, idiomatic expressions. And, you don’t have to learn everything all at once. You can start with the most commonly used idioms, both in verbal and written English.

Check out the following idiomatic expressions that use the noun “heart.” Each idiom is defined, and you are provided with examples for more natural learning. And because they use the word heart, expect the majority of these idiomatic expressions to be related to feelings, emotions, or matters of the heart.

 

2 hands making a black love sign for "hope to die"

Cross my heart / cross your heart (and hope to die)

A person uses this idiom to emphasize that what he or she is saying is true, more like making a promise to someone.

  • Cross my heart, I will be your friend until the end.
  • Do you promise that you would never leave me? Cross your heart and hope to die?
  • A Japanese version:  指切(ゆびき)りげんまん 嘘(うそ)ついたら針千本(はりせんぼん)飲(の)ます 指切(ゆびき)った!

 

From the bottom of my heart

This idiom expresses sincerity. It also reflects the pureness of the words being said.

  • I love you from the bottom of my heart. Will you marry me?
  • From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for saving my life.

 

Have a soft spot in someone’s heart

This idiomatic expression means affection or fondness for someone.

  • Gail is a sweet child. She will always have a soft spot in my heart.
  • I can’t stay angry at him for a long time because he has a soft spot in my heart, even if he constantly makes me feel sad.

 

Tug at my heartstrings / Tug at your heartstrings – idioms with heart can sound musical

This idiom means that someone either feels sad or sympathetic at a particular sight.

  • The pictures of malnourished children in the warzone tugged at my heartstrings.
  • The thought of medical professionals risking their lives to save mankind from the deadly pandemic tugged at my heartstrings.

 

Pour my heart out / Pour your heart out

It means someone is telling your true feelings to another.

  • My sister ran away on her wedding day. We were surprised, but the next day she poured her heart out to us. She’d fallen in love with someone else.
  • If I poured my heart out and told him that I still want him in my life despite his infidelity, my parents would surely get furious.

 

Heartbeat away

It means that someone is close to achieving something good.

  • James is just a heartbeat away from becoming the sales department head. He had broken sales records in just a year and brought in almost 200% of revenue.
  • The manager was extremely impressed with my skills. I feel that I am a heartbeat away from getting promoted.

Hands shaping a heart in front of a sunrise

Wear my heart on my sleeve / Wear your heart on your sleeve

This idiom with heart means someone is showing his/her feelings openly.

  • He’s wearing his heart on his sleeve while he’s talking to his wife.
  • James is such a sensitive guy. He really wears his heart on his sleeve: he cried during the movie yesterday!

 

Young at Heart (One of my favourite idioms with heart)

It pertains to old people who still enjoy doing things despite their age.

  • Many of my friends admire my grandfather because he is young at heart. He even joins us every weekend at the bar!
  • My college professor once told me that being young at heart is his secret to a happy life. He is retired now, and he looks better and stronger than ever.

 

I don’t have the heart

It generally means that someone is unwilling to say or do something, and that he/she is afraid that somebody might get hurt or offended.

  • He’s been too kind to me for four straight years. I know I can’t give him the kind of love he wants, but still, I don’t have the heart to tell him the truth. What should I do?
  • Do you have the heart to tell the kid that she’s adopted?

 

Have a heart

This expression means that someone should try to be sympathetic, or he/she needs to show some pity.

  • Did you punch the kid for two stolen eggs? Come on, have a heart!
  • Let’s save the turtle’s eggs. We should all have a heart for these poor creatures.

Hand painted image of a heart with yellow background

With all my heart and soul

It means someone is doing something with the sheer energy and enthusiasm.

  • The singer is belching on the stage with all her heart and soul.
  • I have performed with all my heart and soul to make the sick kids happy.

 

My heart bleeds for / my heart goes out to – idioms with heart can sound graphic!

This expression means that someone feels extremely sorry or furthermore, extremely sympathetic towards others.

  • My heart bleeds for all the animals that died in the Australian bushfire.
  • My heart goes out to the family of the victim. They are surely having a tough time right now.

 

Follow your heart – 

It stands for taking actions according to your desires and emotions. It doesn’t need to be done in the most sensible and rational manner.

  • You would only be happy in your professional career if you follow your heart.
  • You must follow your heart when it comes to love. Don’t marry only for money or a false sense of security.

 

Change of heart

It means that a person has had a change of mind and would not act as initially planned or desired.

  • I had a change of heart over my strict professor when I found out he’s been teaching homeless teenagers every night for free.
  • I can’t marry you and I don’t know what happened, but I had a change of heart.

 

Have a heart of gold – one of the kindest idioms with heart

This idiom means that someone is extremely kind or generous.

  • Margaret has a heart of gold: she donates almost all her salary to charity.
  • We know everything will be okay in the end because you have a heart of gold. We trust you.

 

Heart to heart

“Have a heart to heart” means that two or more people have an intimate conversation.

  • After scolding her son, the mother sat with him in his room, and the two had a heart to heart.
  • Don’t give up on your relationship so easily! Perhaps you two just need to have a heart to heart conversation.

 

To lose heart – one of the saddest idioms with heart

This idiom expresses the feeling of losing hope, being discouraged, or giving up.

  • I don’t want to lose heart, but based on my performance, I know I didn’t impress the judges.
  • Don’t lose heart. Try and try until you achieve your goals.

 

With a heavy heart

It means that someone is doing something out of obligation and not out of desire. Or, it means to do something sadly.

  • With a heavy heart, I told my student that she would have to take summer classes to catch up with her classmates.
  • The soldier rode the transport bus with a heavy heart, taking one last look at his pregnant wife.

Idiom with heart - hand shaping a heart in front of a sunset

 

Learning English Idioms with Heart is Fun!

 

There are still a many more idioms that discuss the heart in the English language. And, each and every day can be a new learning experience for you.

Check out our Youtube for a new idiom every week, along with authentic examples including idioms with heart.

Learn more English idioms on our website! Study idioms to share happiness, English idioms from poetry, and more!

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Furthermore, we encourage you to test your skills after reviewing this list. You can take online quizzes that challenge you to choose the correct idiom to replace the expression in given sentences. Make English fun by learning English idioms!