not have the heart to

Idioms  

1. Be unable to bring oneself to say or do something, as in He didn't have the heart to tell her the cat had died. [Mid-1600s] Also see have a heart.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

not have the heart to

When she heard explosions, she ran to her father and asked what was happening, he said, but he did not have the heart to tell her, saying they were fireworks for a wedding.

From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026

I do not have the heart to break up with her because I feel obliged to look after her.

From Slate ● Nov. 7, 2019

But she did not have the heart to continue, and decades later her nephew John has taken up the job.

From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2016

Now, I have no religious convictions at all, but I did not have the heart to evict Mary.”

From New York Times ● Apr. 8, 2011

And now she was saying “shay you know” and Ifemelu did not have the heart to tell her that nobody said “shay” anymore.

From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie