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have a heart

Idioms  
  1. Be merciful, show pity; also, be reasonable. For example, Have a heart—I can't pay you back until next month, or Have a heart and stop your arguing now. This expression is often put as an imperative, as in the examples. [c. 1900] Also see harden one's heart.


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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"I have a heart condition, I'm diabetic and I feel it a lot," he said, after coming out in the cooler early hours to do his shopping.

From Barron's Jun. 23, 2026

Prof Malhotra says that his research on young footballers suggests that one in 250 could have a heart condition that requires monitoring.

From BBC Jun. 8, 2026

You’d have to have a heart of stone not to laugh.

From MarketWatch Dec. 26, 2025

“You know, do machines have a heart? Do they have a soul? They don’t live and breathe.”

From The Wall Street Journal Oct. 20, 2025

Gina would have a heart attack if she saw this.

From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti

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