Heart of Gold – Meaning, Origin & Usage
Have you ever heard the phrase “heart of gold”? I wouldn’t be surprised if you have! In this article, I’ll be breaking down the meaning and the origin of the term before going onto talk about the use of the phrase in literature and media. I will also go over how to use the phrase, with examples, and give you some similar words and phrases you can use in its place.
Let’s get straight to it.
What does the phrase “heart of gold” mean?
Basically, the phrase “heart of gold” simply refers to someone who is very kind, caring and compassionate.
The word “heart” is a metaphor for the center of human emotions and nature. Meanwhile, the word “gold” implies goodness or purity, and is used to describe something that is rare and valuable.
Historical origins of the phrase “heart of gold”
The phrase “heart of gold” is quite an old one, dating back to the 1500’s. It’s not known who first coined the term, or when, but we do know that it was popularised by William Shakespeare’s play Henry V, written around 1599. In the play, the character Pistol says, “The King’s a bawcock, and a heart of gold”
Use of the phrase “heart of gold” in literature and media
There are many characters in literature which can be said to have a heart of gold that don’t necessarily use the phrase. For example, Amir in Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner, Hans Hubermann in Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief and Samwell Tarly in George R.R. Martin’s series Game of Thrones.
There has also been a song called Heart of Gold by Neil Young, released in 1972.
How to use the phrase “heart of gold” in everyday conversation – examples
Here are some examples of the phrase in use:
- I think Debbie would make a great nurse. So caring, heart of gold.
- Chis took the rescue dog under his wing. He truly has a heart of gold.
- Heart of gold, that one. Does everything for his poor mother.
Similar words and phrases you can use in place of “heart of gold”
Here follows a list of alternative phrases that can often be used synonymously with “heart of gold”:
- Kindest person
- Most caring person you’ll ever meet
- Generous
- Thoughtful
- Emotionally available
- Caring and considerate
- Totally selfless
- Nicest person ever
- Big-hearted
- Sweet
- Has a big heart
Final word
So, in summary, the phrase “heart of gold” means someone who is very kind, caring and compassionate. The precise origin of the phrase is unknown, but we do know that it dates back to at least the 1500’s. The phrase was popularised by Shakespeare in his play Henry V.
Over time the phrase has become quite cliche, as it has been used again and again in literature, storytelling and other media. Luckily however, there are a great many words and phrases that you can often use in its place, as discussed earlier.
