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Synonyms

heart-to-heart

American  
[hahrt-tuh-hahrt] / ˈhɑrt təˌhɑrt /

adjective

  1. frank; sincere.

    We had a heart-to-heart talk about his poor attendance.

noun

  1. Informal.  a frank talk, especially between two persons.

heart-to-heart British  

adjective

  1. (esp of a conversation or discussion) concerned with personal problems or intimate feelings

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. an intimate conversation or discussion

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
heart to heart Idioms  

  1. Candidly, sincerely, as in We need to talk heart to heart about her coming marriage. This expression is nearly always applied to a conversation of some kind. [Mid-1900s]

Etymology

Origin of heart-to-heart

First recorded in 1865–70

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.

“If he and I had a real heart-to-heart, it would’ve been over a lot sooner.”

From Los Angeles Times

After a series of healing heart-to-heart conversations, Uchis’ mom worked for her daughters’ forgiveness — and spent ample time with her grandson before she tragically died in April.

From Los Angeles Times

Fraser's turning point came after a heart-to-heart with his older brother Ross.

From BBC

And when the sun rose, she shifted gears to film dramatic heart-to-heart talks between Jamie and Ben in one or two takes.

From Los Angeles Times

"Last year, we spoke heart-to-heart with the community and now they must leave and go back to their villages," he added.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.