Idiom
Heart of gold
Someone with a heart of gold is very kind, generous and caring, always ready to help other people.
How people use it
The usual pattern is "to have a heart of gold": "Our neighbor seems gruff, but he has a heart of gold." People often use it to say someone is kinder than they look or act, which is why it so often follows "but." It is warm and positive, and you can use it about friends, family, coworkers or even a loyal dog. It describes a person's whole character, not a single kind act. The opposite image is a "heart of stone," meaning someone cold and unfeeling.
Examples
- Grandpa grumbles about the noise, but he has a heart of gold and fixes every kid's bike on the block.
- The nurse who stayed late to calm my son really has a heart of gold.
- Omar acts tough on the soccer field, yet everyone knows he has a heart of gold.
Where it comes from
Gold has long stood for something pure and precious, so a heart of gold is a good heart through and through. The phrase is old: Shakespeare used it in Henry V (about 1599), where the soldier Pistol praises the king as "a heart of gold." It has stayed in steady use ever since, in songs, stories and everyday speech.
Check yourself
1. What does it mean to say a coworker has a heart of gold?
Answer: She is very kind and generous. A heart of gold describes a kind, giving nature, not wealth or health.
2. Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
Answer: The gruff old baker has a heart of gold and gives free bread to the shelter.. The idiom describes someone's kind character, not jewelry or a prize.
Similar idioms
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