THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE
Wear your heart on your sleeve
Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.
01 / UNDERSTAND
Meaning in plain English
Show your emotions openly instead of hiding them.
02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT
The expression in a sentence
- I wear my heart on my sleeve, so everyone knows when I’m excited.
03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Quick idiom quiz
Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.
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Can you recall the expression?
Which expression from this lesson matches this meaning?
Show your emotions openly instead of hiding them.
Show the answer
Wear your heart on your sleeve — Show your emotions openly instead of hiding them.
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Make it yours
Write one sentence using “Wear your heart on your sleeve” about your own life.
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Does your sentence match this meaning?
Show your emotions openly instead of hiding them.
Compare: I wear my heart on my sleeve, so everyone knows when I’m excited.
Check the spelling and how the expression fits the sentence. Your example can be different.
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GO DEEPER
More ways to understand and use it
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Picture the meaning
The speaker’s smile and tears make her feelings clear. She wears her heart on her sleeve: she shows her emotions openly.
When to use it
Use this conversational expression about someone whose feelings are easy to notice. It can sound affectionate or descriptive; context determines whether the openness is being praised.
More examples in context
- She wore her heart on her sleeve during the farewell speech.
- He tends to wear his heart on his sleeve rather than pretending not to care.
Usage note
Change both possessives with the subject: “her heart on her sleeve”. The past tense of “wear” is “wore”. It can refer to many emotions, not only romantic feelings.
A short conversation
A: Was Arun disappointed about the result?
B: Yes. He wears his heart on his sleeve, and it was obvious.
A: I’ll see whether he wants some company.
One more practice question
Which person wears their heart on their sleeve?
A. Someone who consistently conceals every feeling.
B. Someone whose emotions are openly visible.
Check your answer
B. The phrase describes emotional openness.
Related lessons
Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.