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change of heart

change of heart

54 3.4
A time when a person decides they feel differently about something
  • noun
  • Informal
translation icon : cambio de opinión
  • After much reflection, John had a change of heart about moving to another city.
  • undergo a change of heart
  • sudden change of heart
  • perhaps a change of heart

She's had a total not just change of heart, but change of perspective.

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Examples

  • I've had a sudden change of heart and mind because of what happened to my sister.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • Perhaps the store owner would have a change of heart one day.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Well, listen, you know, I have had a change of heart recently.

  • I was just saying that I had a change of heart.

  • Maybe he had a change of heart.

  • Why the change of heart?

  • Well, if you have a change of heart... you know where to find me, right?

  • Looks like your Mr. and Mrs. Diehl had a change of heart.

  • What can account for Bhabha's change of heart during the war years?

    Academic text (1992)
  • In the months that follow, in a remarkable change of heart, the majority sentiment comes to support the cause for which the rebels of 1916 had fought and died.

Synonyms

turnabout
vschange of heart
10 6.0

A complete change to the opposite view or decision

is about inward feelings or intentions not only outward positions
change of mind
vschange of heart
4 2.8

A decision to take back a previous choice or opinion

is often a deeper shift in feelings or long term intentions
volte-face
vschange of heart
1 9.6

A sudden complete change of opinion or plan

is often gradual or tied to feelings rather than being sudden
metanoia
vschange of heart
1 9.9

A deep change in how someone thinks and lives

is a complete change of views or feelings without implying profound life transformation

How Complete

change of heart
  • Informal
54 3.4

Surface Forms

Morphology

change + of + heart

The noun 'change' (becoming different) combined with 'heart' (centre of one’s emotions) yields a directly interpretable meaning of a shift in feelings or intentions; the composition follows a straightforward noun-of-noun pattern. The metaphorical use of 'heart' for emotions is common across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words will very likely infer this MWE’s meaning.

Etymology

The idiom change of heart comes from the simple image that the heart is the home of feelings. To change your heart is to turn your feelings the other way, so the phrase means 'a complete change in one's opinion, feelings, or intentions'.