>>> LANGUAGE POINT

Expressions with 'heart'

>>Background

There are many English expressions, idioms and proverbs which refer to hearts. There are probably many similar ones in your own language. Here are some of the common ones related to emotions (especially love), bravery and honesty.

>>Emotions

*a heartthrob

someone famous who is very attractive

Elvis Presley was a real heartthrob to millions in the 1950s.

*a bleeding heart

someone who shows too much sympathy (usually said to show you disapprove of their sympathy)

Those bleeding heart socialists want to spend my taxes giving money to the unemployed.

*to break someone's heart

1. to make someone who loves you very sad, usually by telling them you have stopped loving them and want to break up with them

She broke my heart when she ran off and married Mike.

2. to make someone feel very sad

It broke her heart when she didn't get into university.

*to have a change of heart

to change how your think or feel about something

We were going to have a big party but he had a change of heart so we just had a few friends round instead.

>>Bravery:

*Take heart

Said when you want to encourage someone who is feeling defeated or is about to give up

We've walked all day. Take heart, we're nearly there and we'll have a lovely meal when we finish.

*to lose heart

to give up or stop trying to do something

They found the work too difficult and in the end, they lost heart.

>>Honesty

*to bare your heart

to tell someone your secret thoughts and feelings

Don't bare you heart to him! He'll tell everyone. He can't keep a secret.

*from the bottom of your heart

very sincerely, very honestly

I promise to love you forever and I mean that from the bottom of my heart.

*Cross my heart (and hope to die)

you say this to show that what you have just said or promised is completely true

I did see them and they were kissing! Cross my heart!

*in your heart of hearts

what you think is true in your most secret thoughts

She said she didn't steal the money but in my heart of hearts I knew she was lying.

Vocabulary

*What's on your mind?

What are you worried about?

*neglecting

not looking after something or someone that's your responsibility

*to get back on the right track

to return to a way that will bring good results

*to get over it

to feel better after something or someone has made you unhappy

*to distract your from

to help you not to think about something unpleasant

All the episodes here http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/flatmates/archiveepisode.shtml