What does TAKE SOMETHING TO HEART mean?
English is full of expressions connected to emotions, and take something to heart is one of them. If you have seen or heard this phrase and wondered what it means, you are in the right place. In this guide, you will learn the meaning of take something to heart, how native speakers use it, when it sounds natural, and how to add it to your everyday English vocabulary.
The meaning of TAKE SOMETHING TO HEART
The expression take something to heart means:
- to be deeply affected by something someone said or did
- to take words personally
- to feel hurt, upset, or emotionally impacted by criticism, comments, or events
- sometimes, to take advice seriously and sincerely
Most commonly, it refers to being emotionally affected, especially in a negative way.
Simple Explanation:
If someone says something rude and you feel hurt for hours or days, you take something to heart.
If someone gives sincere advice and you truly accept it, you may also take something to the heart.
Common Form:
You will often hear the expression as:
- take it to heart
- take something to heart
- don’t take it to heart
Examples with TAKE IT TO HEART
- Don’t take his comments to heart. He was in a bad mood.
- She took the criticism to heart and improved her work.
- I know the joke was silly, but he really took it to heart.
- Try not to take everything to heart.
- He took her words to heart and changed his behavior.
- She tends to take negative feedback to heart.
- Don’t take it to heart if they don’t reply immediately.
- I took my teacher’s advice to heart and practiced every day.
- Some people take online comments too much to heart.
- They took the manager’s warning to heart and worked harder.
When to Use TAKE SOMETHING TO HEART
This expression is useful in many everyday situations.
1. Criticism and Feedback
When someone feels hurt by criticism:
- He took the review to heart.
2. Advice and Guidance
When someone sincerely accepts advice:
- She took her doctor’s recommendation to heart.
3. Personal Relationships
When emotions are involved:
- Don’t take his silence to heart.
4. Workplace Situations
Useful when discussing performance, comments, or leadership:
- The team took the feedback to heart.
Is It Formal or Informal?
Take something to heart is neutral in tone. It works in:
- casual conversations
- professional conversations
- writing
- articles
- stories
- emotional discussions
It is natural and widely understood.
Important Grammar Notes
Structure:
take + object + to heart
Examples:
- take the comment to heart
- take her advice to heart
- take it to heart
Negative Form:
- Don’t take it to heart.
- He didn’t take the criticism to heart.
Difference Between TAKE IT TO HEART and TAKE IT PERSONALLY
These two are similar, but not identical.
Take it personally
Means you think something was directed at you.
Take it to heart
Means you feel emotionally affected by it.
Example:
- He took the comment personally and to heart.
Possible Origin of TAKE SOMETHING TO HEART
The phrase comes from the long-standing symbolic connection between the heart and human emotions. In English and many other languages, the heart represents feelings, sincerity, pain, love, and emotional depth.
So when you take something to heart, you allow it to enter your emotional center.
This metaphor has existed in English for centuries.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Incorrect:
- take to heart it
- take heart something
Correct:
- take it to heart
- take the comment to heart
- don’t take it to heart
In a Nutshell
Take something to heart means to be emotionally affected by words, actions, criticism, or events. It can also mean accepting advice sincerely and seriously. It is a useful and natural English expression that appears in daily conversations, professional settings, and written English.
If someone says, Don’t take it to heart, they mean: don’t let it hurt you too deeply.
Learning expressions like this helps your English sound more natural, fluent, and emotionally aware.
