1月26日号：Idioms (Part 1)

The English language has a lot of idioms that are based on the body or parts of the body. This week, let's look at some idioms that use the word heart. Often, idioms with heart describe a person's intentions and desires, personality and feelings or opinions. Here are just a few examples.

Intentions and desires

"(Their) heart is in the right place" means that a person's intentions are good, even if they don't always seem that way.

◆ Although my husband can be forgetful sometimes, his heart is in the right place.

◆ My neighbor is kind of strange, but her heart is in the right place.

"(Their) heart isn't in it" means that a person doesn't want to do something that they are doing.

◆ My parents wanted me to become a doctor. I was studying medicine, but my heart wasn't in it and I dropped out of school.

◆ He tried to be happy at his job, but his heart just wasn't in it.

Personality

If someone is "young at heart" then they have a youthful personality, even though they are older.

◆ My grandmother just turned 80 years old, but she's really young at heart.

◆ Although I am getting older, I try my best to stay young at heart.

Someone who "has a big heart" is very kind and generous.

◆ A teacher needs to have a big heart and always take care of their students.

◆ My friend doesn't have a lot of money, but he has a big heart. He always volunteers his time to help others.

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英会話イーオン東京本社教務課コーディネーター。イーオン教師のトレーニングや英語セミナーを企画制作するカリスマ教師として活躍中。カリフォルニア大学バークレー校卒業。趣味は読書、料理、クラフトワーク。