heart to heart
Candid personal talk
A heart to heart is a frank, intimate conversation between two people, especially one addressing personal feelings or difficult subjects: We need to have a heart to heart about your future.
As an adjective, heart-to-heart describes such exchanges: a heart-to-heart talk.
The phrase implies openness and emotional honesty rather than superficial chat.
Verbal exchange between people
- chatInformal verbal exchange
- discussionExchange of ideas
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
- tête-à-têteIntimate two-person discussion
exchange · powwow · confab · sit-down · one-on-one · deep talk · fireside chat · check-in
Open and direct
- openNot closed
- honestFree from deception
- forthrightDirectly honest in manner
- sincereGenuinely felt, not feigned
direct · straightforward · transparent · plain-spoken · upfront · unvarnished · truthful · unreserved
Closely personal or private
- vulnerableOpen to attack
- personalRelating to one's self
- tenderSoft or sore
- compassionateShowing concern for sufferers
empathetic · warm · supportive · consoling · reassuring · comforting · trusting · bonding
talk
Verbal exchange between people
- chatInformal verbal exchange
- discussionExchange of ideas
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
tête-à-tête · exchange · powwow · confab · sit-down · one-on-one · deep talk · fireside chat · check-in · debriefing
frank
Open and direct
- openNot closed
- honestFree from deception
- forthrightDirectly honest in manner
sincere · direct · straightforward · transparent · plain-spoken · upfront · unvarnished · truthful · unreserved · blunt
intimate
Closely personal or private
- vulnerableOpen to attack
- personalRelating to one's self
- tenderSoft or sore
compassionate · empathetic · warm · supportive · consoling · reassuring · comforting · trusting · bonding · cathartic
- love expressionsI love you, my love, darling, dear, baby
- intimacykiss, hug, embrace, closeness, snuggling
- candorfrankness, directness, bluntness, candor, straightforwardness
- inner lifeidentity, feelings, memory, thoughts, self-discovery
- emotional releasecry, venting, crying, sob, sobbing
- closenessclose by, close contact, close-knit, next door, up close
heart to heartsmall talk
Polite trivial conversation
chitchat · idle chatter · pleasantries · banter · casual conversation
heart to heartpretense
Deceptive outward show
performance · lip service · going through the motions · posturing · double talk
heart, hearts, hearted, heartfelt, hearty, heartily, heartiness, sweetheart, wholehearted