PhrasesHub

Heart misses (skips) a beat

    Definitions

      • feel a sudden strong emotion
        To describe a moment when someone feels startled or excited, often due to love, fear, or surprise

      • experience a momentary pause in the heartbeat
        To describe a physical sensation when the heart momentarily stops or skips a beat, often due to shock or excitement

    Examples of Heart misses (skips) a beat

    • When Sarah's boyfriend unexpectedly walked into the room, her heart missed a beat.

      This is a common example of the idiom "heart misses (skips) a beat." It means that Sarah's heart skipped a beat, or momentarily stopped beating, as a result of being surprised or emotionally affected by her boyfriend's sudden appearance.

    • Taylor was so excited to meet her favorite author that her heart skipped a beat several times during the book signing.

      In this example, the idiom is used to describe Taylor's physical reaction to her excitement. When she encountered something especially thrilling, her heart would physically skip a beat.

    • Emma's heart skipped a beat as she saw the familiar face of her high school sweetheart across the crowded room.

      Again, this example demonstrates how the idiom "heart misses (skips) a beat" can be used to describe a person's emotional and physical reaction to a particular occurrence.

    • Despite her fears, Melissa bravely climbed to the top of the tallest roller coaster, her heart missing a beat at every sharp turn and steep drop.

      This example shows how the idiom can be used to describe how the body reacts to thrilling or dangerous situations, as Melissa's heart skipped a beat at every terrifying moment on the roller coaster.

    • Sarah's heart skipped a beat as she saw Jake, her longtime crush, walking towards her in the park.

      This is a common example of the idiom being used to describe a sudden, rapid change in heart rate caused by strong emotions such as excitement or nervousness. In this case, Sarah's heart skipped a beat because she was overwhelmed with happiness and excitement at the sight of Jake.

    • The doctor's words made my heart miss a beat as she delivered the bad news about my health.

      This example demonstrates how the idiom can be used to describe a sudden, unexpected jolt or surprise caused by intense emotions such as fear or shock. In this case, the speaker experienced a sudden pause in their heart rate because they were taken aback by the seriousness of the news from the doctor.

    • As I stepped off the rollercoaster, my heart skipped a beat with adrenaline still pumping through my veins.

      This example is a variation of the first, and shows how the idiom can be used to connote excitement or thrill. Here, the speaker's heart skipped a beat because the rush of adrenaline caused by the rollercoaster ride was still present in their body.

    • The shock of the sudden announcement caused my heart to miss a beat as I struggled to process the implications.

      This example demonstrates how the idiom can be used to indicate confusion or uncertainty. Here, the speaker's heart stopped momentarily because they were struggling to come to terms with the sudden and unexpected announcement.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "heart misses (skips) a beat" can be used to describe both a sudden strong emotion or a momentary pause in the heartbeat. It is often used to convey feelings of love, fear, or surprise, as well as moments of shock or excitement.

    This idiom can be used in various contexts, such as in romantic relationships to describe feelings of love and excitement, or in situations of fear or surprise to convey a sudden strong emotion. It can also be used in medical contexts to describe a physical sensation of the heart momentarily stopping or skipping a beat.

    Overall, the idiom "heart misses (skips) a beat" is a versatile phrase that can be used to express both emotional and physical experiences.

    Origin of "Heart misses (skips) a beat"

    The origin of the idiom "heart misses (skips) a beat" is believed to come from the sensation of feeling a sudden strong emotion, often associated with love or fear. The phrase likely originated from the physical sensation of the heart momentarily pausing or skipping a beat in response to strong emotions or shocks.

    This idiom has been used in literature, music, and everyday language to convey moments of intense emotion or physical sensation. It has become a widely recognized expression for describing the feeling of being startled, excited, or deeply moved. Examples of this idiom can be found in poetry, romantic novels, and popular songs, reflecting its enduring presence in the English language.