break someone's heart
Shatter romantic hopes
To break someone's heart is to cause them deep emotional pain, typically through rejection, betrayal, or the end of a romantic relationship: She broke his heart when she left.
The phrase captures grief that feels physical—a crushing sensation in the chest.
Heartbreak can come from any profound disappointment: It broke my heart to see the old neighborhood demolished.
- abandonmentAct of leaving permanently
- betrayalBreaking of trust
- griefIntense sorrow from loss
- anguishIntense mental suffering
- despairTotal absence of hope
infidelity · left at the altar · heartache · devastation · sorrow · tragedy · star-crossed lovers · estrangement · jilted · regret · ghosting · cold shoulder · elegy · rejection · divorce · walked away · separation · lamentation
break someone's heartmake someone's day
Cause great pleasure
warm someone's heart · lift someone's spirits · sweep someone off their feet
break someone's heartwin someone's heart
Gain someone's love
steal someone's heart · sweep someone off their feet · propose marriage
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