heart of hearts

Definitions

One's innermost private feelings.

idiomatic

Equivalents

Examples

“Yet the darling sin is there in our heart of hearts; we hug it close⟳—we hide⟳ it from every human eye. But in the still night-watches it comes forth like⟳ a serpent out of his hole, and rears its venomous crest, and stings us with the horror of our guilt.”

“With the "Constance," which in his heart of hearts he loathed, departed the last⟳ remnant of Cheyne's millionairedom, and he gave himself up to an energetic idleness.”

“She was grieved, and bitterly sorry for the man who was hurt⟳ so much. But still, in her heart of hearts, where the love⟳ should have⟳ burned, there was a blank.”

CEFR level