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Glite Dictionary
to find it in one's heart

to find it in one's heart

14 7.7
To be able to do something difficult because you feel kind or brave
  • idiom
translation icon : tener el corazón para
  • If you could just find it in your heart to give me another chance,
  • find it in your heart to forgive
  • find it in your heart to give
  • find it in your heart to support

Examples

Synonyms

to take courage in both hands
vsto find it in one's heart
7.9

To make yourself brave enough to do something difficult

is about quietly calling up bravery or compassion when a kind act is hard

Antonyms

to turn away
77 2.8

Refuse someone entry to a place or group

to refuse
4 9.2

To be hard to explain or understand

How Willing

to go out of one's way
  • Informal
53 3.5
to find it in one's heart
14 7.7
to hesitate
318 2.5

Surface Forms

find it in one's heart infinitive
finding it in one's heart present participle
finds it in one's heart third person singular
found it in one's heart past
found it in one's heart past participle

Morphology

find + it + in + one + heart

The expression relies on the common metaphor 'heart' = seat of emotions and 'find' = discover or summon, so a learner who knows the constituent meanings can often infer the idea of accessing compassion or courage. However, the shift from literal discovery to the pragmatic meaning 'be willing/able to forgive or act compassionately' is metaphorical and somewhat idiomatic, so full interpretation and appropriate use may still require exposure.

Etymology

Find it in one's heart uses the simple image of looking inside your heart to find feelings like 'courage' or 'compassion'. So, it means being able to find the inner strength or kindness to do something hard.