one's heart bleeds

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one's heart bleeds

1. Expresses that someone has great sympathy or sadness for another's plight or suffering.
   • 1848, A. M., Montmorency, a Roman Catholic Tale, page 40:

     My heart no longer bleeds for them; as I said before, they have gained the martyr's crown ; but it bleeds for you — it bleeds for your noble parents — it bleeds for those who, born in fatal error, think, when they kill His saints, they do their God a service.

   • 1883, Mary Stanley, Measure for Measure, page 82:

     Such a woman comprehends all that is before her; and has the more capacity to suffer from that attitude, that she is able to subscribe to its justice. My heart bleeds for her .

   • 1896, Life and Light for Woman - Volume 26, page 59:

     We are in the Men's College, with about 300 who have taken refuge with us, and like the apostles we have all things in common; but my heart bleeds for the terror-stricken people whose trust is not so strong as ours, and for the way in which many have gone home.

   • 1908, Gertrude Pahlow, “The Wealth of the Sinner”, in Munsey's Magazine, volume 39, page 814:

     Is there any heart that would not bleed for a young woman in your position?

   Look at those poor little children without shoes on their feet. My heart bleeds for them.

   His heart bled for his beloved home country.

   You have to work through the weekend again? My heart bleeds for you. (normally sarcastic)

In colloquial use in everyday situations, the phrase "my heart bleeds (for)" is often sarcastic.

• “* heart* bleed*”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.