one's heart in one's mouth

noun

A state of nervousness.

“I rang the doorbell and waited with my heart in my mouth.”

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Meanings

noun

alternative one's heart in one's throat

  1. idiomaticA state of nervousness.

    I rang the doorbell and waited with my heart in my mouth.

    3 more examples

    I had my heart in my mouth while I waited for news of my son.

    Winger Cheslin Kolbe, sitting with his jersey over his head in the sin after a yellow card at the death, was probably the sight of millions of South Africans around the country who had their hearts in their mouth as they sat through another nail-biting match.

    2023 October 28, Leighton Koopman, “YES!!! The Springboks beat the All Blacks to win another Rugby World Cup title”, in Independent Online

    There was a last-ditch quality to England’s defending and when Pierre-Emile Højbjerg shaped a curler for the far corner in the 85th minute, England’s hearts were in their mouths. The shot was off target.

    2024 June 20, David Hytner, “Hjulmand rocket earns Denmark draw as England struggle after Kane opener”, in The Guardian

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
one's heart in one's throat

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 提心吊膽 /提心吊胆
  • 提心吊膽 /提心吊胆 (tíxīndiàodǎn)to be very scared (idiom)
Finnish sydän kurkussa
  • sydän kurkussato be very scared (idiom)
Russian душа́ в пя́тки ушла́
  • душа́ в пя́тки ушла́ (dušá v pjátki ušlá)to be very scared (idiom)
Spanish tener el corazón en un puño, tener el corazón en la boca
  • tener el corazón en un puñoto be very scared (idiom)
  • tener el corazón en la bocato be very scared (idiom)
Cite this entry
APA

one's heart in one's mouth. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/one's%20heart%20in%20one's%20mouth

MLA

“one's heart in one's mouth.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/one's%20heart%20in%20one's%20mouth. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “one's heart in one's mouth,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/one's%20heart%20in%20one's%20mouth.

Source: one's heart in one's mouth on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.