Wear your heart on your sleeve

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Meaning

Show your feelings openly and make little effort to conceal your emotional vulnerability.

Origin

The Oxford English Dictionary's first recorded example is in Shakespeare's Othello, written around 1603-04. Iago says that openly displaying his true heart would leave it on his sleeve for jackdaws to peck, an image of exposing private motives and making oneself vulnerable. A first surviving citation does not prove that Shakespeare coined the expression. Scholars have noted that servants displayed a household's livery badge on a sleeve, which may add context to Iago's image. The popular story about knights wearing a lady's token during a joust has not been shown to be the source.

Research Sources

  1. Othello - Entire Play Folger Shakespeare Library
  2. Additional Notes on Othello: wear my heart upon my sleeve Internet Shakespeare Editions, University of Victoria
  3. Othello: Introduction Internet Shakespeare Editions, University of Victoria

Usage Examples

  • Jon wears his heart on his sleeve, so everyone knew how much the farewell affected him.
  • She does not wear her heart on her sleeve, but her relief was obvious when the call ended.
  • A captain who wears his heart on his sleeve can inspire a team, though defeats may feel more exposed.

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