at heart

Idioms  

1. Fundamentally, basically, as in He's a good fellow at heart . It was first recorded in Alexander Pope's Epistle to a Lady (1735): “But every Woman is at heart a Rake.”

2. In one's deepest feelings, as a great concern, as in The governor has the party's best interests at heart . [Early 1700s]

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Example Sentences

While Si was tied to the glitz and glamour of magazine business Condé Nast, Donald was a newspaper man at heart, known as a financially savvy publisher who respected his papers’ editorial independence.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026

But at heart, they say they want to get answers about what went badly wrong at the Trust and to see some measure of justice for those they have lost.

From BBC • May 26, 2026

Of course consumers may still feel somewhat hesitant—particularly on the question External link of whether or not AI actually has their best interests at heart.

From Barron's • May 12, 2026

But Venegas’ parents were artists above all — photographers specifically, a trade now plied by Yvonne — and as such, romantics at heart and in practice.

From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026

‘Oh, you ...’ said Stranger, pretending to be angry, but Johnny knew that at heart he was not.

From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes