at heart

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]

Example Sentences

They view Farage as one of their own - a Tory at heart, who should be welcomed back into the Tory fold, rather than vilified.

From BBC

It couldn’t be more obvious that Isaiah doesn’t have Cameron’s best interests at heart if he blared a warning on the Jumbotron.

From Los Angeles Times

"I still love it and have a community that is strong and stays with me. I'm a gamer and an entertainer at heart - its in my blood," he said.

From BBC

"They are envious of China's fast development. To be honest, they are aggressive at heart. We are completely committed to the common prosperity of mankind. We are different."

From BBC

But while cap-and-trade is a climate program at heart, the revenue it generates often garners the most attention.

From Los Angeles Times