heartsink
/ (ˈhɑːtˌsɪŋk) /
noun
- a patient who repeatedly visits his or her doctor's surgery, often with multiple or non-specific symptoms, and whose complaints are impossible to treat
- (as modifier)heartsink patients
Nearby words
- heartrending,
- hearts,
- hearts and flowers,
- heartsease,
- heartsick,
- heartsome,
- heartsomely,
- heartsore,
- heartstopper,
- heartstrings
Word Origin for heartsink
C20: so-called because the patient's appearance in the surgery makes the doctor's heart sink
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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