wear one's heart on one's sleeve

WOTD - 14 August 2006    

English

Verb

to wear one's heart on one's sleeve

1. (idiomatic) To be very transparent, open, or forthright about one's emotions.
   • 1604, William Shakespeare, Othello, act 1, sc. 1, 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, Thomas Carlyle, Heroes and Hero Worship, lecture 6:

     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.

Synonyms

• (to be emotionally transparent): to be an open book

Translations

to be transparent or forthright about one's emotions

Catalan: parlar amb el cor a la mà Chinese: Mandarin: please add this translation if you can Dutch: het hart op de tong hebben (nl) Finnish: olla (fi) kuin (fi) avoin (fi) kirja (fi)

French: avoir le cœur sur la main (fr) German: das Herz auf der Zunge tragen Russian: душа́ нараспа́шку (ru) (dušá naraspášku) /lit:soul open wide/