wear one's heart on one's sleeve

present singular third person wears one's heart on one's sleeve · participle present wearing one's heart on one's sleeve · past wore one's heart on one's sleeve · participle past worn one's heart on one's sleeve · alternative with one's heart on one's sleeve

1. idiomaticTo be very transparent, open, or forthright about one's emotions.

   I feel so close to you right now, it's a force field / I wear my heart on my sleeve, like a big deal

   2011, “Feel So Close”, performed by Calvin Harris

   4 more examples

   Iago: For when my outward action doth demonstrate The native act and figure of my heart In compliment extern, 'tis not long after But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve For daws to peck at: I am not what I am.

   c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], line 64

   Such a man must have reticences in him. If he walk wearing his heart upon his sleeve for daws to peck at, his journey will not extend far!

   1840 May 22, Thomas Carlyle, “Lecture VI. The Hero as King. Cromwell, Napoleon: Modern Revolutionism.”, in On Heroes, Hero-Worship and The Heroic in History, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1840, →OCLC, page 202

   There was something very direct and childlike in Virginie Poucette. She could not pretend; she wore her heart on her sleeve.

   1915, Gilbert Parker, chapter 18, in The Money Master

   I'm not being smart or trying to be cold on my part / And I'm not gonna wear my heart on my sleeve / But you know people get all emotional

   1978, Lou Reed, “Street Hassle”, in Street Hassle

   Synonyms: to be an open book