heart - thesaurus entry

phrases

• at heart

  used for saying what someone’s basic character is

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  Words used to describe someone's personality: adaptive, addictive, babyish, badass, born, classy, clingy, constitutionally, flawed, flexible... more

• bless his/her heart

  informal old-fashioned
  used for showing that you like someone or feel sorry for them

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  Ways of expressing sympathy: I know, (oh,) what a shame, too bad, someone’s heart goes out to someone, I know the feeling, bless him/her/them, aw, I don’t envy you/him etc., someone’s heart/sympathy/thoughts go out to someone, you can’t win them all/(you) win some, (you) lose some... more

• by heart

  if you know something by heart, you can remember all the words in it without any help

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  Words used to describe memory and memories: blurred, catchy, commemorative, conscious, dim, dimly, elusive, etched, faint, foggy... more

• close/dear/near to someone’s heart

  very important or interesting to someone

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  Important: important, major, key, serious, vital, crucial, significant, fundamental, central, meaningful... more

• cry/sob your heart out

  to cry a lot, because you are very upset

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  To cry, or to start crying: cry, burst out, dissolve into, weep, choke up, sob, wail, howl, cry/sob your heart out... more

• do someone’s heart good

  mainly literary
  to make someone feel happy

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  To make someone happy or happier: please, excite, hearten, uplift, brighten (up) someone’s day/life, lift, gladden, bring a smile to your face/lips, make someone’s day, do someone’s heart good... more

• have a heart

  spoken
  used for asking someone to be more reasonable, because they are asking you to do something that is too difficult or unpleasant

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  Ways of encouraging or telling someone to do something: I wish, go for it, don’t hesitate to do something, come on, (do you) understand?, want, go on, be to do something, someone would be well advised to do something, shoot... more

• have a heart of gold

  to be a very kind person

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  Kind and gentle and sensitive: gentle, nice, sensitive, generous, warm, kind, caring, warm-hearted, tender, good... more

• have a heart of stone

  to not feel any sympathy for other people

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  To stop, control or not show emotions: manage, suppress, deal with, master, hold in, conceal, bottle up, repress, keep back... more

• have something at heart

  to be influenced in your actions by something that you really care about

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  To value something or someone: value, respect, appreciate, prize, attach importance/significance/value/weight to something, set/put/lay (great) store by/on something, put someone/something before/over/above, cherish, acknowledge, make much of something... more

• have your heart set on (doing) something

  to decide that you want something very much

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  To want something: want, wish, hope, look for, long, aspire, crave, lust after, yearn, have your heart set on (doing) something... more

• someone’s heart aches

  mainly literary
  used for saying that someone feels very sad

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  To be, or to become sad, regretful or upset: regret, grieve, pine, mourn, sink, feel sorry for someone, upset yourself, get down, ache... more

• my heart bleeds (for someone)

  spoken
  used for saying that you feel sympathy for someone. This phrase is usually used in a humorous way to show that, in fact, you do not feel any sympathy at all.

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  Ways of expressing lack of sympathy: tough luck, too bad, my heart bleeds (for someone), you’re breaking my heart, tough shit, tough... more

• someone’s heart goes out to someone

  used for saying that someone feels sorry for someone else

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  Ways of expressing sympathy: I know, (oh,) what a shame, too bad, someone’s heart goes out to someone, I know the feeling, bless him/her/them, aw, I don’t envy you/him etc., someone’s heart/sympathy/thoughts go out to someone, you can’t win them all/(you) win some, (you) lose some... more

• someone’s heart is in the right place

  used for saying that someone tries to be kind and do good things even though it does not always seem like this

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  Kind and gentle and sensitive: gentle, nice, sensitive, generous, warm, kind, caring, warm-hearted, tender, good... more

• someone’s heart is not in something

  used for saying that someone does not really care about something that they are doing

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  Not feeling excited or enthusiastic: bored, restless, apathetic, unenthusiastic, world-weary, blasé, uninspired, fed up, indifferent, listless... more

• someone’s heart leaps/jumps/quickens

  used for saying that someone suddenly feels excited, nervous, or afraid

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  Become excited: swoon, crackle, buzz, exult, thrill, spin around, go berserk, go crazy, lick your lips, go mad... more

• someone’s heart pounds/beats/thumps

  used for saying that someone can feel their heart moving quickly because they are very excited or afraid

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  Physical sensations associated with emotions: churn, convulse, flutter, inside, settle, stiffen, have/get/feel butterflies (in your stomach), someone’s heart pounds/beats/thumps, someone’s stomach churns/lurches/tightens, the pit of your stomach... more

• someone’s heart’s desire

  literary
  the thing that someone really wants

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  Things you want or need: wants, wish, the goods, all someone wants, someone’s heart’s desire, wish list, the Holy Grail, man cannot live by bread alone... more

• someone’s heart sinks

  used for saying that someone suddenly feels very worried, upset, or disappointed

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  To be, or to become sad, regretful or upset: regret, grieve, pine, mourn, sink, feel sorry for someone, upset yourself, get down, ache... more

• someone’s heart swells with happiness/pride

  used for saying that someone starts to feel very happy or proud

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  To be, or to become happy or happier: rejoice in, brighten, treasure, look forward to, thrive on, rejoice, cheer, be happy for someone, live happily ever after, jump for joy... more

• in someone’s heart (of hearts)

  used for talking about true or secret feelings

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  Secret, secretive and in secret: secret, secretive, surreptitious, clandestine, in strict confidence, underground, mysterious, confidential, shadowy, classified... more

• lose your heart (to someone)

  literary
  to start to love someone

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  To love or like a person: love, care for, adore, dote on, idolise, smother, long, fall for, worship the ground someone walks on... more

• a man/woman after your own heart

  someone who has the same opinions as you on a particular subject

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  Someone or something that is like someone or something else: copy, equivalent, parallel, approximation, match, double, echo, carbon copy, mirror image, clone... more

• not have the heart to do something

  to not be able to do something, because it seems cruel

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  Unwillingness and to be unwilling: disinclination, shy away, balk, repel, deign, scorn, be in no hurry, grudge, fight shy of something, have/want no truck with... more

• open your heart

  to tell someone everything that you are thinking about, especially something that has made you unhappy

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  To start speaking, or to start speaking again: begin, bring up, continue, go on, get out, throw in, add, open, break your silence, find your tongue... more

• play/work/sing etc. your heart out

  to put a lot of effort into playing, working, singing, etc.

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  To work hard: work at, forge, overwork, slave, toil, apply yourself, put your back into something, buckle down, labor, exert yourself... more

• put your heart into something

  to do something with a lot of effort

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  To try hard to do or get something: try, work, strive, attempt, try for, struggle, go after, strain, push for, press for... more

• (straight) from the heart

  being completely honest about your feelings

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  Words used to describe honest and sincere people and behaviour: honest, sincere, fine, genuine, decent, truthful, principled, irreproachable, good, upstanding... more

• take heart (from something)

  to feel happier or less worried because of something

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  To be, or to become happy or happier: rejoice in, brighten, treasure, look forward to, thrive on, rejoice, cheer, be happy for someone, live happily ever after, jump for joy... more

• take something to heart

  to think about something seriously, often so that you become upset by it

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  To think carefully or a lot about things: consider, plan, think out, assess, contemplate, evaluate, ponder, take something into consideration, take a long hard look at someone/something, think over... more

• touch someone’s heart

  to make someone feel sympathy

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  To make someone feel a particular emotion or strong emotions: affect, provoke, inspire, invoke, awaken, rouse, have, arouse, touch, ignite... more

• to your heart’s content

  as much or as often as you like

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  With energy and enthusiasm: enthusiastically, madly, furious, with (all/both) guns blazing, with all your might, energetically, a big smile/kiss/hug etc., to your heart’s content, ...up a storm... more

• warm/gladden someone’s heart

  mainly literary
  to make someone feel happy

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  To make someone happy or happier: please, excite, hearten, uplift, brighten (up) someone’s day/life, lift, gladden, bring a smile to your face/lips, make someone’s day, do someone’s heart good... more

• the way to someone’s heart

  the way to make someone love you

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  To start a romantic or sexual relationship: ask out, flirt, chat up, pair off, chase, run after, pick up, make a pass at someone, sweep someone off their feet, have your eye on someone... more

• wear/have your heart on your sleeve

  to make your feelings obvious to other people

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  To show or express emotions: show, display, manifest, express yourself, make no secret of something, give away, offer, voice, render, surrender... more

• someone will break a few hearts

  spoken
  a way of saying that someone is very attractive

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  Words used to describe an attractive person: attractive, charming, elegant, lovable, engaging, personable, glamorous, pretty, telegenic, dashing... more

• win/capture/steal someone’s heart

  mainly literary
  to make someone start to love you

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  To start a romantic or sexual relationship: ask out, flirt, chat up, pair off, chase, run after, pick up, make a pass at someone, sweep someone off their feet, have your eye on someone... more

• with a heavy heart

  mainly literary
  feeling sad

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  Feeling sad or unhappy: sad, unhappy, gloomy, miserable, melancholy, sorrowful, subdued, bleak, wistful, homesick... more

• with all your heart (and soul)

  literary
  used for emphasizing that a feeling is very strong

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  General words used to describe emotions: acutely, affective, basic, bitter, blind, burning, casual, deep, deep-seated, depth... more

• (with) your heart in your mouth

  feeling very nervous or afraid

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of heart*

  Afraid and frightened: afraid, frightened, scared, alarmed, fearful, startled, intimidated, panic-stricken, petrified, (with) your heart in your mouth... more