Idioms are like little windows into how we express emotions, especially when it comes to the heart—whether it’s love, bravery, or vulnerability. These phrases might not mean exactly what the words say, but they capture feelings in a way that’s often easier and more beautiful than plain language.
Heart-related idioms show up everywhere—from heartfelt lyrics and emotional novels to everyday conversations with people we care about. They help us talk about love, loss, kindness, courage, and deep feelings, all in a way that connects more meaningfully with others. In this article, you’ll find 45 popular heart idioms, complete with definitions, sentence examples, and synonyms to expand your emotional vocabulary.
Learning these expressions will help you describe how you feel in a more thoughtful and creative way, whether you’re writing, speaking, or just trying to better understand yourself and others.
Idioms About the Heart
1. Have a heart
Meaning: This idiom is used when asking someone to show kindness or empathy, especially in a situation where someone is struggling or asking for forgiveness.
In a Sentence: When I told my teacher that I forgot my homework because of a family emergency, I hoped she would have a heart and give me one more day to turn it in.
Other Ways to Say: Be compassionate, Show some mercy, Be understanding
2. With all my heart
Meaning: This phrase is used to express doing something with complete sincerity, love, or dedication, as if every part of your emotions is fully committed.
In a Sentence: I promised my best friend with all my heart that I would never let her down, no matter what happened.
Other Ways to Say: Completely, Sincerely, Wholeheartedly
3. Cross my heart
Meaning: This idiom is used to show someone you are telling the absolute truth and making a serious promise, often paired with a physical gesture of crossing the chest.
In a Sentence: I didn’t touch your phone, I swear—cross my heart, I didn’t even go near your desk.
Other Ways to Say: I promise, Truly, I swear
4. A change of heart
Meaning: When someone has a change of heart, it means they’ve changed their opinion or feelings about something or someone, often after reflection or new understanding.
In a Sentence: I was going to quit the drama club, but after seeing how much fun the others were having, I had a change of heart and decided to stay.
Other Ways to Say: Rethink things, Reverse decision, Shift perspective
5. Young at heart
Meaning: This expression means someone may be older in age but still feels, acts, or thinks like a much younger person with energy, curiosity, and joy.
In a Sentence: Even though my grandma is turning seventy-five, she’s still young at heart—dancing at weddings, learning new apps, and laughing louder than all of us.
Other Ways to Say: Playful, Energetic, Youthful in spirit
6. Follow your heart
Meaning: This idiom encourages someone to trust their instincts or emotions, especially when making a personal or difficult decision.
In a Sentence: I wasn’t sure if I should take the art scholarship or go to business school, but in the end, I decided to follow my heart and pursue what truly made me happy.
Other Ways to Say: Trust yourself, Go with your gut, Listen to your feelings
7. Take to heart
Meaning: To take something to heart means to be deeply affected by it—usually emotionally or personally—especially when it comes as feedback or advice.
In a Sentence: I really took it to heart when my coach said I had potential, and it gave me the confidence to try harder at every practice.
Other Ways to Say: Be moved by, Take seriously, Feel deeply
8. Pour your heart out
Meaning: This idiom means to express all your emotions, especially about something difficult, by talking openly and honestly.
In a Sentence: I didn’t plan to cry at the sleepover, but once we started talking, I poured my heart out about how hard school has been lately.
Other Ways to Say: Open up, Share deeply, Let everything out
9. Know something by heart
Meaning: When you know something by heart, it means you’ve memorized it completely and can recall it without needing to read or check.
In a Sentence: I practiced that poem so many times that I know it by heart and can recite it in my sleep if needed.
Other Ways to Say: Have memorized, Remember perfectly, Recite without looking
10. From the bottom of my heart
Meaning: This phrase is used to express genuine emotion or thanks in the deepest, most heartfelt way possible.
In a Sentence: I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me through such a tough time—I truly don’t know what I would’ve done without you.
Other Ways to Say: Truly, Deeply, Sincerely
11. Heart of gold
Meaning: This idiom describes someone who is incredibly kind, generous, and thoughtful, always willing to help others even when they don’t have to.
In a Sentence: My neighbor may seem quiet, but she has a heart of gold—she brings food to the shelter every weekend and checks on everyone on our block.
Other Ways to Say: Kind-hearted, Generous soul, Very thoughtful
12. Heart skips a beat
Meaning: When someone is suddenly excited, nervous, or scared, they might feel like their heart “skipped a beat” in reaction to the moment.
In a Sentence: When he smiled at me during lunch, my heart skipped a beat, and I forgot what I was even saying.
Other Ways to Say: Feel a rush, Get nervous, Sudden excitement
13. Eat your heart out
Meaning: This idiom is often used playfully to show off or tease someone, usually when you’re proud of something and want others to notice.
In a Sentence: Eat your heart out, everyone—I just baked the best triple chocolate cake in the whole school, and yes, I brought extra slices.
Other Ways to Say: Show off, Brag (lightly), Playful teasing
14. Lose heart
Meaning: To feel discouraged or to lose motivation, especially after trying hard and not getting the results you hoped for.
In a Sentence: I started to lose heart after getting rejected by three clubs, but my brother reminded me that I just hadn’t found the right one yet.
Other Ways to Say: Get discouraged, Feel hopeless, Want to give up
15. Open your heart
Meaning: This phrase means to allow someone to see your true thoughts and emotions or to welcome someone into your life with love and honesty.
In a Sentence: It was hard at first, but I finally opened my heart and told her how much I appreciated everything she’s done for me.
Other Ways to Say: Be vulnerable, Share feelings, Let someone in
16. Heavy heart
Meaning: When someone says they have a heavy heart, it means they’re feeling very sad, sorrowful, or burdened by something emotional.
In a Sentence: I walked into school with a heavy heart after saying goodbye to my cousin who moved away yesterday.
Other Ways to Say: Feeling down, Deep sadness, Emotional weight
17. In your heart of hearts
Meaning: This idiom means that deep inside, you truly believe or feel something, even if it’s hard to admit or say out loud.
In a Sentence: In my heart of hearts, I knew I wasn’t ready for the audition, but I told myself to try anyway and learn from it.
Other Ways to Say: Deep down, Honestly, At your core
18. Know by heart
Meaning: A repeated idiom (see #9), but still widely used—it emphasizes having something completely memorized through repetition or love for it.
In a Sentence: I’ve heard that song so many times that I know the lyrics by heart, even the second verse that nobody else remembers.
Other Ways to Say: Fully memorized, Stored in memory, Can recite without help
19. To one’s heart’s content
Meaning: This phrase means doing something as much as you want, until you’re totally satisfied and happy with it.
In a Sentence: During the summer break, I slept in and played video games to my heart’s content, without a single worry about homework.
Other Ways to Say: As much as you want, Until satisfied, Freely enjoy
20. Change of heart
Meaning: When someone suddenly changes their feelings, beliefs, or plans, usually due to a new experience or realization.
In a Sentence: I planned to skip the school trip, but after hearing how fun last year’s was, I had a change of heart and signed up.
Other Ways to Say: Reconsider, Shift feelings, New perspective
21. Break someone’s heart
Meaning: To make someone feel deep sadness or emotional pain, especially in relationships or when trust is broken.
In a Sentence: It broke my heart to see my best friend cry after her dog ran away, and I stayed with her the whole day to cheer her up.
Other Ways to Say: Hurt deeply, Cause sadness, Bring heartbreak
22. Heart-to-heart
Meaning: A deep and honest conversation between two people, often involving serious emotions or truths being shared.
In a Sentence: After weeks of arguing, my brother and I had a heart-to-heart, and it helped us finally understand where each of us was coming from.
Other Ways to Say: Honest talk, Deep conversation, Open chat
23. Follow your heart
Meaning: A repeated idiom (see #6), but often used in different emotional contexts—encouraging people to choose what truly matters to them.
In a Sentence: I didn’t take the job offer everyone wanted me to because I knew I had to follow my heart and pursue music.
Other Ways to Say: Trust your instincts, Be true to yourself, Go your own way
24. Put your heart into it
Meaning: To give something your full energy, effort, and emotion, showing how much you care about doing it well.
In a Sentence: I didn’t just write the essay—I put my heart into it, staying up late to make sure every sentence felt real and honest.
Other Ways to Say: Give your best, Try your hardest, Fully commit
25. Wear your heart on your sleeve
Meaning: To openly show your emotions, especially love, sadness, or excitement, without trying to hide how you feel.
In a Sentence: You could tell she wore her heart on her sleeve—when she was happy, everyone around her could feel it too.
Other Ways to Say: Be emotionally open, Show your feelings, Be expressive
26. Close to your heart
Meaning: Something or someone that is very important, meaningful, or emotionally valuable to you.
In a Sentence: Animal rescue has always been close to my heart because my first dog came from a shelter, and he changed my life in the best way.
Other Ways to Say: Personally meaningful, Dear to me, Deeply valued
27. Heart in the right place
Meaning: Even if someone makes mistakes or doesn’t express themselves well, this idiom means their intentions are good and kind.
In a Sentence: He might be clumsy when he gives gifts, but his heart is in the right place and he always means well.
Other Ways to Say: Well-intentioned, Good-hearted, Kind at the core
28. Not have the heart to
Meaning: When someone can’t do something because it would hurt or upset someone else, even if it’s necessary or expected.
In a Sentence: I didn’t have the heart to tell my little brother that his drawing was upside down because he was so proud of it.
Other Ways to Say: Feel too bad to do, Can’t bring yourself to, Too kind to say
29. A heart of stone
Meaning: Someone who seems cold or emotionally unfeeling, especially in situations that usually make people sad or empathetic.
In a Sentence: When he laughed at the crying puppy, I honestly thought he had a heart of stone.
Other Ways to Say: Emotionless, Cold-hearted, Uncaring
30. Tug at the heartstrings
Meaning: Something that makes you feel deep sadness, sympathy, or love, especially through music, stories, or memories.
In a Sentence: The video of the soldier reuniting with his dog tugged at my heartstrings and left me in tears.
Other Ways to Say: Stir emotions, Touch your heart, Deeply move
31. Heart isn’t in it
Meaning: When someone is doing something, but they’re not emotionally connected or truly interested in it anymore.
In a Sentence: I was practicing for the talent show, but my heart wasn’t in it after my best friend dropped out.
Other Ways to Say: Not motivated, Lost interest, No emotional energy
32. Take heart
Meaning: To find courage, hope, or comfort in a tough situation, even when things seem difficult.
In a Sentence: Take heart—this challenge won’t last forever, and you’ve gotten through hard things before.
Other Ways to Say: Stay strong, Be encouraged, Hold on
33. Speak from the heart
Meaning: To say something honestly and with deep emotion, without pretending or trying to impress.
In a Sentence: At the graduation ceremony, she spoke from the heart about her struggles, and everyone gave her a standing ovation.
Other Ways to Say: Be sincere, Be real, Talk truthfully
34. After my own heart
Meaning: When someone shares your interests, values, or way of thinking, making them feel especially relatable or likable.
In a Sentence: When I found out he loves pineapple on pizza too, I thought, “This guy is truly after my own heart!”
Other Ways to Say: Just like me, My kind of person, A great match
35. Break your own heart
Meaning: To make yourself sad or disappointed, usually by hoping for something that doesn’t happen or putting yourself in a painful situation.
In a Sentence: I knew it would break my own heart to check his profile again, but I couldn’t help myself.
Other Ways to Say: Hurt yourself emotionally, Self-inflicted pain, Cause your own sadness
36. Set your heart on
Meaning: To strongly want something and hope it will happen, often putting a lot of emotional energy into the outcome.
In a Sentence: I’ve set my heart on getting into art school, and I’m doing everything I can to make it real.
Other Ways to Say: Dream of, Aim for, Long for
37. Heart-to-heart talk
Meaning: Another form of “heart-to-heart,” used more as a noun phrase describing an honest emotional discussion.
In a Sentence: We had a long heart-to-heart talk after the argument, and it helped us understand each other better.
Other Ways to Say: Honest discussion, Deep conversation, Emotional sharing
38. All heart
Meaning: This idiom means someone is very kind, generous, and full of emotional goodness, even if they might not seem that way at first.
In a Sentence: He may act tough in class, but when his little sister showed up crying, you could see he’s all heart.
Other Ways to Say: Big-hearted, Deeply kind, Emotionally generous
39. Cold-hearted
Meaning: Describes someone who shows no empathy or care for others’ feelings and may even seem cruel.
In a Sentence: It was cold-hearted of her to laugh when I dropped my lunch tray in front of everyone.
Other Ways to Say: Uncaring, Harsh, Lacking sympathy
40. Change of heart
Meaning: (Repeated, but common)—to change your feelings or decision, usually in a big, emotional way.
In a Sentence: I had a change of heart and decided to forgive her after hearing her side of the story.
Other Ways to Say: Rethink things, New perspective, Feel differently
41. Wear your heart
Meaning: (Short form of “wear your heart on your sleeve”)—to openly display how you’re feeling.
In a Sentence: He wears his heart wherever he goes, and you can always tell when something’s bothering him.
Other Ways to Say: Show emotions, Be expressive, Don’t hide feelings
42. Heavy-hearted
Meaning: Similar to “heavy heart,” it describes a deep feeling of sadness or emotional burden.
In a Sentence: I walked home heavy-hearted after the last day of camp, already missing all my new friends.
Other Ways to Say: Deeply sad, Emotionally low, Full of sorrow
43. Open-hearted
Meaning: Someone who is kind, generous, and emotionally available, willing to care for and listen to others.
In a Sentence: She’s so open-hearted that people feel safe telling her anything, even their biggest worries.
Other Ways to Say: Warm, Generous, Compassionate
44. Take something to heart
Meaning: Another repeat (see #7), but widely used when you really let something affect you emotionally.
In a Sentence: I took her compliment to heart and it made me feel proud of myself all week.
Other Ways to Say: Let it sink in, Be affected by, Remember deeply
45. In a heartbeat
Meaning: To do something immediately, without hesitation, because you feel so strongly or care so much.
In a Sentence: If you ever needed me, I’d be there in a heartbeat—no questions asked.
Other Ways to Say: Right away, Without hesitation, Instantly
Practical Exercise
Fill in the blanks with the correct heart idiom:
- After the accident, I was walking around with a __________, thinking about everything that happened.
- She didn’t __________ to cancel the date, even though she had the flu.
- I __________ and told my parents how I really felt about switching schools.
- Even though the teacher yelled, I know his __________—he wants the best for us.
- I’ve __________ on going to that concert for months; nothing is going to stop me now.
- He may act tough, but he’s __________ underneath it all.
- When she heard the sad song, it really __________ and brought tears to her eyes.
- I __________ to my best friend about everything that happened at home.
- I’m going to __________ and finish this no matter how hard it gets.
- The kind stranger helped me, and I thanked her __________.
Answers:
heavy heart, have the heart, spoke from the heart, heart is in the right place, set my heart, all heart, tugged at her heartstrings, poured my heart out, take heart, from the bottom of my heart
Conclusion
Using heart idioms is a beautiful way to connect emotions with language, allowing us to say how we truly feel in a more vivid and expressive way. Whether you’re cheering someone up, describing love, or working through tough feelings, these idioms give your words more depth and emotion.
So keep practicing, and try using them in your daily writing or when you’re talking with friends and family. The more you use them, the more natural they’ll feel—straight from the heart.