PhrasesHub

Have your heart in your mouth

    Definitions

      • experience fear or anxiety
        To feel extremely nervous or anxious about something

    Examples of Have your heart in your mouth

    • As the car swerved off the road and careened towards the edge of the cliff, Emily's heart felt like it was about to leap from her chest and land in her throat. She held on tight to the steering wheel, her knuckles white, her breath came in short gasps, as she desperately tried to regain control of the vehicle.

      This is an example of the idiom "have your heart in your mouth" being used to describe a situation where a person experiences intense fear or anxiety. In this case, Emily's heart feels like it's physically leaving her body due to the extreme danger she's in.

    • The gymnast soared through the air, twisting and flipping in mid-air with a death-defying grace. As she landed safely on the mat, her heart was still hammering against her ribcage like a rabbit's heart in a bird's beak.

      This example shows how the idiom can also be used to describe a situation where a person's heart is racing due to an intense experience, like the adrenaline rush a gymnast might feel during a routine.

    • Mark's heart was in his mouth as he stood at the top of the tallest rollercoaster he'd ever been on. The lever clicked, and the car suddenly lurched forward, hurtling Mark down the track, and all he could do was scream as his heart felt like it was trying to escape from his chest.

      Here, the idiom is used to describe the intense fear and excitement that someone might feel in a high-intensity situation, like when they're about to embark on a rollercoaster ride.

    • Nick's heart was in his mouth as he watched his wife give birth, her screams filling the air as the baby finally emerged. He couldn't believe how quickly his heart was beating, as if it was trying to escape from his chest in a panic.

      This final example demonstrates how the idiom can also be used to express intense emotions, like witnessing the birth of one's child. It's a situation that can trigger a lot of mixed emotions, ranging from joy and excitement to fear and intense anxiety, with the heart racing rapidly as a result.

    • During the skydiving jump, Emily had her heart in her mouth as she plummeted towards the ground at breakneck speed.

      The phrase "have your heart in your mouth" is used to describe a situation where there is a high level of danger, fear, or excitement, causing your heart to feel like it is literally in your throat. In the case of skydiving, Emily's adrenaline was pumping so hard that she couldn't catch her breath, and she felt as though her heart was about to leap out of her chest.

    • In the final minutes of the nail-biting hockey game, the crowd held their breath as the puck glided towards the goal, and the home team's goalie had her heart in her mouth.

      This example shows how the phrase can be used to describe a moment of intense concentration, where the slightest mistake could have disastrous consequences. The goalie's heart was pounding so fiercely that she could barely hear the roar of the crowd.

    • Tom's stomach churned as he approached the edge of the rope bridge, his legs trembling as he had his heart in his mouth.

      The phrase can also be used to describe a situation where someone feels a mix of excitement and fear, as in Tom's case. He was excited to overcome his fear of heights, but he was also incredibly nervous and fearful at the same time.

    • The tightrope walker had his heart in his mouth as he balanced on the thin wire, hundreds of feet above the ground.

      This example shows how the phrase can be used to describe a situation where someone is taking a huge risk, and the stakes are incredibly high. The tightrope walker was risking his life with each step, and his heart was pounding so fiercely that he could barely breathe.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "have your heart in your mouth" is used to describe a strong feeling of fear or anxiety about something. It is often used in situations where someone is anticipating a dangerous or nerve-wracking event, causing them to feel extremely anxious.

    This idiom can be used in a variety of contexts, such as before a public speaking engagement, before taking a big exam, or before a risky physical activity. It conveys the intensity of the emotions being experienced, highlighting the overwhelming nature of the fear or anxiety.

    Overall, the idiom "have your heart in your mouth" effectively communicates the sense of extreme nervousness or anxiety that someone may feel in a particular situation, and it is commonly used to express this intense emotional state.

    Origin of "Have your heart in your mouth"

    The origin of the idiom "have your heart in your mouth" is not definitively known, but it likely stems from the idea that when someone is experiencing intense fear or anxiety, their heart feels like it is in their mouth. This imagery vividly captures the overwhelming nature of the emotions being felt, and it has become a common way to express extreme nervousness or anxiety in English.

    The idiom can be traced back to at least the 16th century, and it has been used in various forms across different cultures and languages. The vivid imagery of the heart being in the mouth has made this idiom a powerful and evocative way to convey the intensity of fear or anxiety, and it continues to be widely used in English today.