heartstrings

American  

[hahrt-stringz] / ˈhɑrtˌstrɪŋz /

plural noun

1. the deepest feelings; the strongest affections.

   to tug at one's heartstrings.

---

heartstrings British  

/ ˈhɑːtˌstrɪŋz /

plural noun

1. facetious deep emotions or feelings

---

Etymology

Origin of heartstrings

First recorded in 1475–85; heart + strings ( def. )

Example Sentences

“The Pitt” spent its first season suturing our heartstrings to these characters by way of an impressively profound level of character development, rounding out the individual quirks of seemingly minor recurring characters.

From Salon

However, the black and white spaniel still happily greeted her rescuers with a wagging tail which "pulled on the heartstrings", she said.

From BBC

Richter’s spare composition is meant to tug at the heartstrings, and it does its job just as well here, especially for unsuspecting viewers.

From Salon

He said claims like Wandelt's "pull on your heartstrings" but were "damaging" to the search for his daughter.

From BBC

A third of it wants to be a feisty industry satire, but the rest believes there’s prestige value in tugging on the heartstrings.

From Los Angeles Times