People believed for a long time that the heart was the center
of a person’s emotions. That is why the heart is used in so many expressions
about emotional situations. 46)One such expression is to
"lose your heart "to someone. When that happens, you have fallen in love. But if
the person who "won your heart" does not love you, then you are sure to have a
"broken heart". In your pain and sadness, you may decide that person is
"hard-hearted", and in fact, has a "heart of stone". You may
decide to "pour out your heart" to a friend. Telling someone about your personal
problems can make you feel better. 47)If your friend does not
seem to understand how painful your broken heart is, you may ask him to "have a
heart". You are asking him to show some sympathy, to understand how important
all this is to you. Your friend "has his heart in the right place" if he says he
is sorry, and shows great concern for your situation.
48)He may, however, warn you "not to wear your heart on your sleeve".
In other words, do not let everyone see how lovesick you are. When your heart is
on your sleeve, you are showing your deepest emotions. If
your friend says, "my heart bleeds for you", then he is a cold-hearted person
who does not really care about his friends. What he is really saying is that his
heart does not bleed for you. He is uncaring. Let us turn from
"affairs of the heart" or matters of love, to some other heart expressions about
other emotions; courage, for example. The word courage comes
from the Latin word "cor" meaning heart. Someone who is lacking courage is said
to "lack heart". 49)The cowardly lion in the motion picture
The Wizard of Oz believed he lacked heart, he was always afraid. So he made a
difficult trip to seek the mighty Wizard of Oz, to ask for a
heart. You could say that the cowardly lion was
"chicken-hearted". That is another way of describing someone who is not very
brave. A chicken is not noted for its bravery. Thus, someone who is
chicken-hearted is not very brave or bold. When you are
frightened or concerned, your "heart is in your mouth". You might say, for
example, that your heart was in your mouth when you asked the bank for more
money. 50)If the bank says not to you, do not "lose heart".
Be "stronghearted". Go to the bank. Sit down with the banker and have a "heart
to heart" talk. Be open and honest. Explain your situation.
As a result of this meeting, the bank may have a "change of heart". It may
agree to lend you the money. This world "put your heart at rest". You could stop
worrying.