18 Expressions with Heart in English (Meanings and Examples)

Hello English learners! Learning expressions with heart is a great way to make your English sound more natural, emotional, and expressive.

Have you ever felt heartbroken? Have you ever learned something by heart? English is full of expressions with the word heart, and many of them are colourful, emotional, and very common in everyday language.

The word heart is often connected with feelings, love, courage, sincerity, and instinct. That is why so many idioms and expressions use it.

In this lesson, you will learn 8 useful expressions with heart, together with their meanings and example sentences. These expressions will help you understand English more easily and sound more natural when you speak or write.

Let’s get to the heart of the matter.

1. Wear your heart on your sleeve

Meaning: to show your feelings very openly and honestly. If you wear your heart on your sleeve, other people can easily see how you feel. You do not hide your emotions.

• You should not wear your heart on your sleeve at work.
• She has always worn her heart on her sleeve, so everyone knows when she is upset.
• He is the kind of person who wears his heart on his sleeve.

This expression is often used to describe someone who is emotional, open, and sincere.

2. By heart

Meaning: from memory; memorised completely. If you learn something by heart, you remember every word without looking at the text.

• Polly learned the poem by heart.
• We had to learn all the irregular verbs by heart.
• He knew the speech by heart before the presentation.

This expression is very common in school and exam contexts.

3. Cross your heart

Meaning: to make a sincere promise that you are telling the truth or that you will do something. This expression is often used in an informal or playful way, especially by children, but adults use it too.

• I promise I will mow the grass — cross my heart!
• “Will you keep my secret?” “Yes, cross my heart.”
• She said she had not told anyone, cross her heart.

You may also hear the longer version: Cross my heart and hope to die, although that sounds more childish and old-fashioned.

4. From the bottom of your heart

Meaning: very sincerely; with deep and genuine feeling. If you say something from the bottom of your heart, you really mean it.

• I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your help.
• She wished them happiness from the bottom of her heart.
• I am sorry, and I mean it from the bottom of my heart.

This expression is often used in emotional situations, such as apologies, thanks, or messages of love and support.

5. Young at heart

Meaning: having a youthful attitude, even if you are older. If someone is young at heart, they enjoy life, stay active, and keep a cheerful or playful spirit.

• My grandpa loves going to the pub and uses social media every day — he is definitely young at heart.
• She may be eighty, but she is still young at heart.
• People who are young at heart often stay curious and energetic.

This is a warm and positive expression.

6. Have your heart in your mouth

Meaning: to feel extremely nervous, frightened, or anxious. If your heart is in your mouth, you feel a sudden moment of fear or tension.

• Sally had her heart in her mouth when the bell rang late at night.
• I had my heart in my mouth as I waited for the exam results.
• We all had our hearts in our mouths when the car nearly hit the dog.

This expression is especially common when something frightening or stressful happens suddenly.

7. Break someone’s heart

Meaning: to make someone feel extremely sad, especially in love, but also in other painful situations. This expression is often used in romantic contexts, but not always.

• Jill broke Brian’s heart when she told him she no longer loved him.
• It would break my heart to leave this house.
• The news broke her heart.

Although it is often connected with relationships, it can also describe any deep emotional pain.

8. Follow your heart

Meaning: to do what feels right to you, rather than simply doing what other people expect. If you follow your heart, you listen to your true feelings and desires.

• You do not have to study medicine just because your parents want you to be a doctor. Follow your heart and do what you love.
• He decided to follow his heart and become a musician.
• Sometimes the best thing you can do is follow your heart.

This expression is often used when talking about life choices, love, and personal dreams.

9. Take something to heart

Meaning: to take something very seriously or feel deeply hurt by it.

• Do not take it to heart — he did not mean to offend you.
• She really took the criticism to heart and felt upset for days.
• He always takes things to heart, even small comments.

This expression is often used when someone is too sensitive about criticism or negative remarks.

10. Lose heart

Meaning: to become discouraged or lose confidence.

• Do not lose heart — you are making progress.
• She almost lost heart after failing the exam the first time.
• We must not lose heart in difficult times.

This expression is encouraging and often used when someone needs hope or motivation.

11. Take heart

Meaning: to feel hopeful or encouraged.

• Take heart — things will soon get better.
• Students should take heart from the fact that many people pass on the second attempt.
• He took heart when he heard the good news.

This expression is the opposite of lose heart.

12. Have a heart

Meaning: to show kindness, sympathy, or pity.

• Have a heart and forgive him.
• Oh, have a heart — she is only a child.
• I know you are angry, but have a heart.

This expression is usually used when asking someone to be more compassionate.

13. Have a change of heart

Meaning: to change your opinion or feelings about something.

• She was going to sell the house, but then she had a change of heart.
• At first he said no, but he later changed his heart — better: had a change of heart.
• They had a change of heart and decided to support the project.

Always say have a change of heart, not change your heart.

14. Set your heart on something

Meaning: to want something very much.

• She has set her heart on studying in London.
• He set his heart on buying that old cottage.
• Once she sets her heart on something, she rarely gives up.

This expression often suggests a strong emotional desire.

15. Pour your heart out

Meaning: to tell someone all your feelings openly and honestly.

• She poured her heart out to her best friend.
• He sat down and poured his heart out about all his problems.
• Sometimes it helps to pour your heart out to someone you trust.

This expression is often used when someone speaks emotionally for a long time.

16. A heart of gold

Meaning: a very kind and generous nature.

• She may seem strict, but she has a heart of gold.
• My grandfather had a heart of gold and helped everyone.
• Anyone who knows him will tell you he has a heart of gold.

This is a warm and affectionate expression.

17. In your heart of hearts

Meaning: deep down; in your true private feelings.

• In her heart of hearts, she knew he was right.
• In my heart of hearts, I have always wanted to be a writer.
• He denied it, but in his heart of hearts he knew the truth.

This expression is used when talking about what someone really feels, even if they do not say it openly.

18. Your heart sinks

Meaning: you suddenly feel disappointed, worried, or unhappy.

• My heart sank when I saw the exam paper.
• Her heart sank when she realised she had lost her passport.
• His heart sank at the sight of the long queue.

This expression describes a sudden feeling of dread or disappointment.

Why learn expressions with heart?

Expressions with heart are very common in English, and they often appear in conversations, books, films, songs, and social media. Learning them can help you understand native speakers more easily, sound more natural and expressive, build stronger emotional vocabulary and enjoy English idioms more confidently.

These expressions also make your English feel more vivid and human — and that is never a bad thing.

Final thoughts

Expressions with heart are some of the most memorable idioms in English because they are closely connected to feelings, truth, love, and instinct. They are useful not only for understanding others, but also for expressing yourself in a more natural and colourful way.

Try choosing two or three expressions from this lesson and write your own example sentences with them. That is one of the best ways to remember new idioms and make them part of your active vocabulary.

Learn them well, and before long, you will know them by heart.

FAQ – expressions with heart

What are common expressions with heart in English?

Common expressions with heart include by heart, follow your heart, wear your heart on your sleeve, and take something to heart.

What does by heart mean?

By heart means from memory.

What does follow your heart mean?

Follow your heart means to do what feels right to you rather than simply doing what others expect.

Are heart expressions common in English?

Yes, many heart expressions are common in everyday English, especially when talking about feelings, sincerity, courage, and personal decisions.

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