heart of gold

English

Pronunciation

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Noun

heart of gold (plural hearts of gold)

1. (idiomatic) A kind, compassionate, or caring attitude; kindheartedness; a person with those qualities.

   Antonym: heart of stone

   Don't let her rough exterior fool you; underneath that grumpy disposition beats a heart of gold.

   • 1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]:

     The King's a Bawcock, and a Heart of Gold, / a Lad of Life, an Impe of Fame, / of Parents good, of Fist most valiant:

   • 1910, Baroness Orczy, Petticoat Rule‎^[1]:

     "He is modest," said Lady Eglinton, with the air of a proud mother lauding her young offspring. "A heart of gold, my dear Mlle. d'Aumont!" she whispered behind her fan, "under a simple exterior."

Related terms

• gold-hearted
• good-hearted
• golden-hearted

Translations

kindheartedness

• Finnish: sydän puhdasta kultaa
• French: avoir le cœur sur la main (fr) (to have a heart of gold), cœur d'or (fr) m, cœur en or m
• German: gutes Herz n
• Polish: złote serce n
• Russian: до́брое се́рдце n (dóbroje sérdce), золото́е се́рдце n (zolotóje sérdce)
• Spanish: ser un pan de Dios (to have a heart of gold)

See also

• heart of glass