wear one's heart on one's sleeve
English
WOTD – 14 August 2006
Alternative forms
- with one's heart on one's sleeve
Pronunciation
Audio (AU) (file)
Verb
wear one's heart on one's sleeve (third-person singular simple present wears one's heart on one's sleeve, present participle wearing one's heart on one's sleeve, simple past wore one's heart on one's sleeve, past participle worn one's heart on one's sleeve)
- (idiomatic) To be very transparent, open, or forthright about one's emotions.
- c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act I, scene i], line 64:
- Iago: For when my outward action doth demonstrate
The native act and figure of my heart
In compliment extern, 'tis not long after
But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve
For daws to peck at: I am not what I am.
- 1840 May 22, Thomas Carlyle, “Lecture VI. The Hero as King. Cromwell, Napoleon: Modern Revolutionism.”, in On Heroes, Hero-Worship and The Heroic in History, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1840, OCLC 874416277, page 202:
- Such a man must have reticences in him. If he walk wearing his heart upon his sleeve for daws to peck at, his journey will not extend far!
- 1915, Gilbert Parker, The Money Master, ch. 18:
- There was something very direct and childlike in Virginie Poucette. She could not pretend; she wore her heart on her sleeve.
- 1978, Lou Reed (lyrics and music), “Street Hassle”, in Street Hassle:
- I'm not being smart or trying to be cold on my part / And I'm not gonna wear my heart on my sleeve / But you know people get all emotional
- 2011, “Feel So Close”, performed by Calvin Harris:
- I feel so close to you right now, it's a force field / I wear my heart on my sleeve, like a big deal
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Synonyms
- (to be emotionally transparent): to be an open book
Related terms
- hearts on sleeves
Translations
to be transparent or forthright about one's emotions
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