VOA朗讀: Heart to Heart: Some Heartfelt Expressions

 

Now, the VOA Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES.

Each week, this program explains the many meanings of English expressions. Today’s expressions include a very important word – heart. 

We will try to get to the heart of the matter to better understand the most important things about words and their stories.  So take heart.  Have no fear about learning new expressions.   Besides, popular English words can be fun.  There is no need for a heavy heart.  Such feelings of sadness would only break my heart, or make me feel unhappy and hopeless.  

Now, let us suppose you and I were speaking freely about something private.  We would be having a heart to heart discussion.  I might speak from the bottom of my heart, or say things honestly and truthfully.   I might even open up my heart to you and tell a secret.   I would speak with all my heart, or with great feeling.

When a person shares her feelings freely and openly like this, you might say she wears her heart on her sleeve, or on her clothing.   Her emotions are not protected. 

If we had an honest discussion, both of us would know that the other person’s heart is in the right place.  For example, I would know that you are a kind-hearted and well-meaning person.  And, if you are a very good person, I would even say that you have a heart of gold.  However, you might have a change of heart based on what I tell you.  Our discussion might cause you to change the way you feel about something.

But, let us suppose you get angry over what I tell you. Or worse, you feel no sympathy or understanding for me or my situation.  If this happens, I might think that you have a heart of stone.   And, if you say something to make me frightened or worried, my heart might stand still or skip a beat.

Yet, even though you may be angry, I would know that at heart, you are a kind person.  In reality, you do care.   And any argument between us would not cause me to lose heart or feel a sense of loss. 

My heart goes out to anyone who loses a friend over an argument.  It really is a sad situation, and I feel sympathy for the people involved. 

I promise that what I have told you today is true – cross my heart.

I really wanted to play some music at the end of this feature.  In fact, I had my heart set on it. So here it is, “Don’t Go Breaking my Heart” by Elton John.

本次詞語典故的短語匯總：

get to the heart to the matter 深入事情的本質
take heart 鼓起勇氣
heavy heart 沉重的心情
break my heart 傷心
heart to heart : 真誠，率直
from the bottom of my heart:從心底
open up my heart :打開心扉
with all my heart :全心的
wears her heart on her sleeve/clothing:容易動感情的
heart is in the right place:心腸不壞
kind hearted:善良
a heart of gold : 一顆高貴的心
change of heart:改變心意
heart of stone 鐵石心腸
heart might stand still/skip a beat:受到驚嚇
at heart:本質
lose heart :喪失信心
my heart goes out :對...表示同情
cross my heart :我(可以)發誓
I had my heart set on it: 已經決定

所有跟帖： 

• 隻有mm還在讀了，PF from the bottom of my heart :) -lilac09- ♀ (0 bytes) () 11/30/2009 postreply 21:46:31

• Heartly thanks to lilac09-mm~~ -天澤園- ♀ (0 bytes) () 11/30/2009 postreply 21:52:48

• good reading -billnet- ♂ (191 bytes) () 12/01/2009 postreply 04:49:12

• long time no see, 情聖 -23731241- ♂ (0 bytes) () 12/01/2009 postreply 08:21:30

• I'm new here. Curious: why do you guys call him 情聖? -amazing_grace- ♀ (0 bytes) () 12/01/2009 postreply 08:38:03

• i am new 2. heard it from Carpediem's love story -23731241- ♂ (0 bytes) () 12/01/2009 postreply 08:46:19

• Thanks. I'll phone Carpediem then. -amazing_grace- ♀ (0 bytes) () 12/01/2009 postreply 08:49:26

• Hi 23731241- greetings to you. But you're misleading others -billnet- ♂ (310 bytes) () 12/01/2009 postreply 09:43:36

• don't be so modest. about your achievement. btw, 237 -戲雨飛鷹- ♀ (62 bytes) () 12/01/2009 postreply 10:01:31

• phew - relieved. Xie Feiying -billnet- ♂ (0 bytes) () 12/01/2009 postreply 10:14:03

• 這裏好熱鬧啊,問候大家~~ -天澤園- ♀ (0 bytes) () 12/01/2009 postreply 14:22:46

• billnet, Thanks for compliments~ -天澤園- ♀ (0 bytes) () 12/01/2009 postreply 14:26:20

• 天澤園, you are my role model. Thank you for the great work and spi -amazing_grace- ♀ (0 bytes) () 12/01/2009 postreply 08:40:36

• amazing_grace MM , 謝謝,你過獎了~~ -天澤園- ♀ (0 bytes) () 12/01/2009 postreply 14:24:37