heart sinks

/hɑːrt sɪŋks/◆idiom

lose hope or feel disappointed

When she saw the long queue at the airport, her heart sank.

She felt disappointed because the long queue suggested delays.

◆ What It Really Means

to feel a sudden loss of hope or enthusiasm due to bad news or an unexpected problem

¶ Literal Meaning

the heart physically falls or drops

Literal Breakdown

heartthe organ that pumps blood+sinksmoves downward due to gravity

◇ Mental Image

A heavy, sinking feeling in the chest, as if emotions have physically dropped, creating a sense of despair or disappointment.

◈ When to Use

Imagine receiving a rejection letter for a job you really wanted. As you read the letter, you feel your heart sink, and your spirits drop instantly.

◉ Cultural Note

This idiom reflects the common metaphorical association between emotions and physical sensations in English. The heart is often used symbolically to represent feelings, and 'sinking' conveys a downward emotional spiral.

informal

to feel a sudden loss of hope or enthusiasm

My heart sank when I realized I had missed the last train.

I felt disappointed because I would have to wait hours for the next train.

His heart sank as he opened the letter and saw the rejection.

He felt discouraged upon reading the rejection letter.

Often used to describe a sudden emotional reaction to bad news or an unexpected problem.

Collocations

heart sinks into one's bootsfeel extremely disappointed or discouraged

Synonyms

lose hope feel disheartened feel discouraged

Antonyms

heart leaps feel encouraged

Related Phrases

heart leapsidiom

feel sudden joy or excitement

sink like a stoneidiom

fail or perform poorly

Pro Tip

Context Matters

Use 'heart sinks' to emphasize a sudden emotional reaction to negative news or events. It’s stronger than 'feel disappointed' and conveys a deeper sense of discouragement.

Gold Rule

Idiom vs. Literal Meaning

Never interpret 'heart sinks' literally. It does not refer to a physical sinking motion but to an emotional response.

Word Origin

The phrase originates from the physical sensation of a 'sinking' feeling in the chest, often associated with emotional distress or disappointment. The 'heart' symbolizes emotions, and 'sinks' metaphorically describes the sudden drop in spirits.

Usage Notes

This idiom is commonly used in spoken English and informal writing. It conveys a strong emotional reaction and is often used to describe reactions to bad news, failures, or unexpected obstacles.

Word Breakdown

heart

the center of emotion or feelings

noun

sinks

drops or falls suddenly

verb

English Dictionary

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