33 Idioms for Heart

Idioms for Heart can instantly transform how you express emotions and connect with others. Whether you’re feeling joy, sadness, love, or hope, these heart-centered phrases help convey the depth of your feelings in a creative and powerful way.

In this article, you’ll discover a variety of heart idioms that will spice up your everyday conversations. From showing kindness to sharing your deepest emotions, these expressions capture the richness of the human experience. So, keep reading to find out how you can use these idioms to speak from the heart and make your language come alive!

1. Wear Your Heart on Your Sleeve

Meaning: To openly show your emotions and feelings without hiding them.
In a Sentence: Sarah always wears her heart on her sleeve, so you always know when she’s happy or upset.
Other Ways to Say: Be transparent about your feelings, show emotions openly.

2. Have a Change of Heart

Meaning: To change your opinion or feelings about something.
In a Sentence: I wasn’t sure about adopting a pet, but I had a change of heart after visiting the animal shelter.
Other Ways to Say: Change your mind, reconsider.

3. Break Someone’s Heart

Meaning: To cause someone emotional pain or sadness, usually related to love or loss.
In a Sentence: The breakup really broke his heart, and he struggled to move on.
Other Ways to Say: Hurt someone deeply, cause emotional distress.

4. Follow Your Heart

Meaning: To act according to your emotions or inner feelings, especially when making decisions.
In a Sentence: Instead of listening to everyone else, I decided to follow my heart and pursue my passion for art.
Other Ways to Say: Trust your instincts, go with your gut.

5. Cold-Hearted

Meaning: Lacking empathy or kindness, often used to describe someone cruel or indifferent.
In a Sentence: The cold-hearted businessman didn’t care about the impact of his decisions on employees.
Other Ways to Say: Heartless, unfeeling.

6. From the Bottom of One’s Heart

Meaning: To do or say something sincerely and with deep feeling.
In a Sentence: Tim thanked his parents from the bottom of his heart for their unwavering support.
Other Ways to Say: Wholeheartedly, earnestly.

7. Have a Heart of Gold

Meaning: To be kind, generous, and compassionate.
In a Sentence: Despite his tough exterior, Bob has a heart of gold and always helps those in need.
Other Ways to Say: Kind-hearted, compassionate spirit.

8. Take Heart

Meaning: To be encouraged or find hope in a difficult situation.
In a Sentence: Even though we lost the match, take heart, because we’ll have another chance next week.
Other Ways to Say: Be encouraged, remain hopeful.

9. Lose Heart

Meaning: To become discouraged or give up hope.
In a Sentence: She almost lost heart after all the rejections, but she kept going.
Other Ways to Say: Feel disheartened, give up hope.

10. Heartfelt

Meaning: Sincere, deeply felt, or genuine.
In a Sentence: Her heartfelt apology brought tears to my eyes.
Other Ways to Say: Genuine, sincere.

11. Cross One’s Heart

Meaning: To make a sincere promise or pledge, often with an oath.
In a Sentence: I cross my heart that I’ll keep your secret safe.
Other Ways to Say: Swear, promise.

12. Have One’s Heart Set on Something

Meaning: To be determined to achieve or get something.
In a Sentence: She had her heart set on getting into the university of her dreams.
Other Ways to Say: Be determined, strongly desire.

13. Open-Hearted

Meaning: Willing to share your thoughts and feelings openly.
In a Sentence: The group therapy session encouraged everyone to be open-hearted about their struggles.
Other Ways to Say: Candid, transparent.

14. Half-Hearted

Meaning: Lacking enthusiasm, effort, or sincerity in an action.
In a Sentence: His half-hearted attempt at apologizing didn’t convince anyone.
Other Ways to Say: Unenthusiastic, lackluster.

15. Heart of the Matter

Meaning: The most important or central issue or point.
In a Sentence: Let’s stop discussing the details and get to the heart of the matter: how do we solve the problem?
Other Ways to Say: Essence, core issue.

16. Heavy Heart

Meaning: Feeling burdened with sadness or sorrow.
In a Sentence: She left the office with a heavy heart after hearing the bad news.
Other Ways to Say: Sorrowful, weighed down.

17. Warm-Hearted

Meaning: Kind, caring, and generous in nature.
In a Sentence: The warm-hearted nurse always took extra time to comfort her patients.
Other Ways to Say: Compassionate, friendly.

18. Set One’s Heart at Ease

Meaning: To ease someone’s worries or anxieties.
In a Sentence: The reassuring words from my friend set my heart at ease during the stressful situation.
Other Ways to Say: Relieve anxiety, calm down.

19. Bare One’s Heart

Meaning: To openly share or reveal one’s true feelings.
In a Sentence: After months of holding back, Sarah bared her heart to her therapist.
Other Ways to Say: Open up, share emotions.

20. Steal Someone’s Heart

Meaning: To make someone fall deeply in love with you.
In a Sentence: With his charm and smile, he stole her heart on their first date.
Other Ways to Say: Win someone over, capture someone’s heart.

21. Tug at One’s Heartstrings

Meaning: To provoke strong emotional reactions, especially sympathy or sadness.
In a Sentence: The charity ad really tugged at my heartstrings, and I decided to donate.
Other Ways to Say: Pull at one’s heart, deeply move.

22. Heart to Heart

Meaning: An honest and intimate conversation.
In a Sentence: After their argument, they sat down for a heart-to-heart to clear the air.
Other Ways to Say: Honest discussion, deep conversation.

23. With All One’s Heart

Meaning: To do something with complete sincerity, enthusiasm, or commitment.
In a Sentence: She supported her friend’s decision with all her heart.
Other Ways to Say: Wholeheartedly, sincerely.

24. Young at Heart

Meaning: To maintain a youthful spirit and outlook, regardless of age.
In a Sentence: Even in her 70s, Grandma is young at heart and loves to go hiking.
Other Ways to Say: Forever young, youthful.

25. Close to One’s Heart

Meaning: Something that is deeply cherished or valued.
In a Sentence: Her childhood home will always be close to her heart, as it holds so many memories.
Other Ways to Say: Precious, dear.

26. Heart in the Right Place

Meaning: To have good intentions or to mean well.
In a Sentence: Though his efforts didn’t succeed, his heart was in the right place.
Other Ways to Say: Well-meaning, good-natured.

27. Light-Hearted

Meaning: Cheerful, carefree, and free from worry.
In a Sentence: The light-hearted jokes during the lunch break lifted everyone’s spirits.
Other Ways to Say: Cheerful, playful.

28. Bleeding Heart

Meaning: Someone who is overly compassionate, often to the point of being naive.
In a Sentence: He’s a bleeding heart who can’t say no to helping others, even when it’s not in his best interest.
Other Ways to Say: Soft-hearted, overly sympathetic.

29. Heart and Soul

Meaning: To put all of your energy and passion into something.
In a Sentence: She put her heart and soul into creating the perfect wedding cake.
Other Ways to Say: Wholeheartedly, with full dedication.

30. Heartbreaking

Meaning: Causing great sadness or emotional pain.
In a Sentence: The news of his passing was absolutely heartbreaking for the entire family.
Other Ways to Say: Devastating, tragic.

31. Heartwarming

Meaning: Evoking positive feelings, often of happiness or comfort.
In a Sentence: The heartwarming story of the rescue dog finding a new home brought tears to my eyes.
Other Ways to Say: Uplifting, touching.

32. My Heart Sinks

Meaning: To feel sudden sadness or disappointment.
In a Sentence: My heart sank when I heard the news of the canceled flight.
Other Ways to Say: Feel disheartened, lose hope.

33. Heart’s Desire

Meaning: The thing someone wants most, often related to a personal or emotional goal.
In a Sentence: Becoming a published author was her heart’s desire, and she worked tirelessly to make it happen.
Other Ways to Say: Deepest wish, ultimate goal.

MCQs

1. What does the idiom “Wear your heart on your sleeve” mean?

A) To hide your emotions
B) To express your emotions openly
C) To be confused about your emotions
D) To ignore your emotions

Answer: B) To express your emotions openly

2. Which of the following idioms means to change your opinion or feelings about something?

A) Cross one’s heart
B) Break someone’s heart
C) Have a change of heart
D) Heart to heart

Answer: C) Have a change of heart

3. What does “Heartfelt” mean?

A) To do something without care
B) Sincere or deeply felt
C) To break someone’s emotions
D) To have a heart of gold

Answer: B) Sincere or deeply felt

4. If someone “tugs at your heartstrings,” what is happening?

A) You are feeling excitement
B) You are feeling sadness or sympathy
C) You are feeling angry
D) You are feeling confused

Answer: B) You are feeling sadness or sympathy

5. Which of the following idioms describes someone who is kind and generous?

A) Cold-hearted
B) Heart in the right place
C) Have a heart of gold
D) Half-hearted

Answer: C) Have a heart of gold

6. What does “Take heart” mean?

A) To feel discouraged
B) To feel encouraged or hopeful
C) To break someone’s heart
D) To express your true feelings

Answer: B) To feel encouraged or hopeful

7. What does the idiom “Steal someone’s heart” refer to?

A) To make someone laugh
B) To make someone fall in love with you
C) To hurt someone emotionally
D) To break a promise

Answer: B) To make someone fall in love with you

8. What does “Heart of the matter” mean?

A) The smallest detail of something
B) The most important or essential part of something
C) The easiest part of a task
D) The least important aspect of an issue

9. Which idiom refers to someone who is overly sympathetic or compassionate?

A) Cold-hearted
B) Light-hearted
C) Bleeding heart
D) Warm-hearted

Answer: C) Bleeding heart

10. What does the idiom “From the bottom of one’s heart” mean?

A) To say something in an insincere way
B) To say something with deep sincerity
C) To apologize without meaning it
D) To speak without feeling

Answer: B) To say something with deep sincerity

11. If someone has their “heart set on something,” what does that mean?

A) They are uncertain about their goals
B) They are determined to achieve it
C) They are easily distracted
D) They are worried about their goals

Answer: B) They are determined to achieve it

12. Which idiom means to have a youthful outlook, regardless of age?

A) Young at heart
B) Heartwarming
C) Heartfelt
D) Heavy heart

Answer: A) Young at heart

13. What does “Lose heart” mean?

A) To feel encouraged
B) To feel discouraged or lose hope
C) To make a promise
D) To help others

Answer: B) To feel discouraged or lose hope

14. What does “Heart in the right place” mean?

A) To do something out of selfish reasons
B) To have good intentions, even if the actions aren’t perfect
C) To be emotionally distant
D) To act without any intention

Answer: B) To have good intentions, even if the actions aren’t perfect

15. What does “Light-hearted” refer to?

A) Someone who is carefree and cheerful
B) Someone who is easily angered
C) Someone who is heavy with emotions
D) Someone who has lost all hope

Answer: A) Someone who is carefree and cheerful

16. Which of these idioms means to express your true feelings openly?

A) Bare one’s heart
B) Cross one’s heart
C) Set one’s heart at ease
D) Take heart

Answer: A) Bare one’s heart

17. What does “Heavy heart” mean?

A) Feeling cheerful
B) Feeling burdened with sorrow
C) Feeling determined
D) Feeling light and carefree

Answer: B) Feeling burdened with sorrow

18. What does “Heartwarming” describe?

A) Something that causes anger
B) Something that evokes positive emotions or comfort
C) Something that is indifferent
D) Something that makes you feel sad

Answer: B) Something that evokes positive emotions or comfort

19. What does “Set one’s heart at ease” mean?

A) To cause anxiety
B) To relieve worry or anxiety
C) To make someone feel uncertain
D) To cause more distress

Answer: B) To relieve worry or anxiety

20. Which idiom describes someone who is unfeeling or cruel?

A) Warm-hearted
B) Cold-hearted
C) Heart of gold
D) Heartfelt

Answer: B) Cold-hearted

Conclusion

Idioms for the heart provide a beautiful way to express emotions and feelings, adding depth and color to everyday language. Whether describing love, sorrow, or kindness, these phrases offer a unique and creative method of communication.

By understanding and using these idioms, you can connect more meaningfully with others and convey your emotions more effectively. So, next time you’re in a conversation, try using one of these heart-related expressions to express what’s truly on your mind.