hearts on sleeves

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English

Noun

hearts on sleeves pl (plural only)

  1. (idiomatic) Transparent, open, or forthright emotions.
    • 1975 June 11, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), page 453:
      As they have avoided the consequences of one defeat in Standing Committee, we are trying to get another opportunity for the House to consider the matter in order to bring home to the Government that it is no use Ministers coming here with hearts on sleeves and being full of good intentions aimed at the electorate and anybody else who cares to listen.
    • 2002 July 23, Greil Marcus, “Real Life Rock Top 10”, in Salon‎; quoted in Greil Marcus, “Salon, 1999–2003”, in Real Life Rock: The Complete Top Ten Columns, 1986–2014, New Haven, Conn., London: Yale University Press, 2015, →ISBN, page 314:
      Played with all hearts on sleeves. With angst. angst. angst.
    • 2005 March 28, Rick Lyman, The New York Times, section A, page 15:
      THE SCHIAVO CASE: THE SCENE; Protesters With Hearts on Sleeves and Anger on Signs
    • 2009, Hazel Wheeler, Crackers at Christmas: The Festive Trials of a Yorkshire Housewife, Amberley Publishing, published 2013, →ISBN:
      Well, you’re not bothered – hearts on sleeves and all that – touché.
    • 2010, Luca Caioli, Messi: The Inside Story of the Boy Who Became a Legend, Icon Books, →ISBN:
      It is a time for reflection, for hearts on sleeves and for dedications.
    • 2012, Sam Bleakley, “Getting Traction in Haiti”, in Surfing Tropical Beats, Alison Hodge Publishers, →ISBN, page 28:
      On our last trip, hearts on sleeves and neighbourly love in spades had been replaced by clubs in hand and diamond geezers in warring gangs.
    • 2013, Chloe Govan, The Incredible Rise of Mumford & Sons, Omnibus Press, →ISBN:
      What I love about bluegrass is that it’s hearts on sleeves, and getting everyone involved, and rocking out.
    • 2014 September 19, Matthew Fisher, The Vancouver Sun, page B1:
      Hearts on sleeves as Scotland faces moment of truth
    • 2016, Mandy Arioto, Starry-Eyed: Seeing Grace in the Unfolding Constellation of Life and Motherhood, Zondervan, →ISBN, page 14:
      With hearts on sleeves and sparklers in hand, may we all see glittering lights in the darkness.
    • 2019, Andrew Beatty, “Java: Emotions Analyzed”, in Emotional Worlds: Beyond an Anthropology of Emotion, Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, part I (Groundings), page 77:
      Instead of hearts on sleeves, expect caution, philosophical doubt, a bland smile.
    • 2021, Victoria McFarlane, I Don’t Want You, →ISBN:
      It’s as you would expect, all love and longing, hearts on sleeves and happily ever afters.

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