English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
To heart’s content
Meaning
The idiom "to heart's content" means to be satisfied or pleased to a great extent, especially with something that you are doing for yourself and enjoy doing. It is often used when someone is engaging in an activity that they like or to indicate that they are happy and content with their current state of affairs.
Usage
- I love exercising in the morning, and after my run, I am always to heart's content.
- She spends all day reading books at home and couldn't be happier.
- The family was to heart's content with their camping trip.
- After a long day of work, she took a bubble bath and sipped some tea to heart's content.
- He was pleased with the outcome of his job interview and felt to heart's content.
Roots and History
The idiom "to heart's content" has been in use for over 300 years, according to the Oxford English Dictionary. The first known usage of the phrase is from John Ray's "A Collection of English Proverbs" in 174- However, the earliest known printed use of the idiom is from George Eliot's "Adam Bede" in 1859.
Synonyms in English
- Content with what you are doing
- Happy and satisfied
- Pleased and fulfilled
- Fulfilled and content
- Satisfied and contented
Synonyms in other languages
- French: Contente/Contenu (Content or Contained)
- German: Zufrieden (Satisfied)
- Spanish: Poco a poco (Little by Little)
- Italian: Un po' pioggia e un po' sole (A little rain and a little sunshine)
- Portuguese: Feliz/Contente (Happy or Contented)