The Village Idiom

eat one's heart out

The idiom "eat one's heart out" means to feel intense sadness or jealousy over someone else's success or happiness.

Emotions & feelings · Filed under E

In a sentence

  • She didn't get the promotion she wanted, so now she's sitting at home eating her heart out.
  • He broke up with his girlfriend, but she's already moved on. She's making him eat his heart out.
  • The team lost the championship game, and the star player was left eating his heart out.

Where it comes from and how it is used

Additionally, there are two related idioms that are often used in conjunction with "eat one's heart out": "eat someone's lunch" and "eat one's feelings." These idioms have their own unique meanings and can be used to further enhance the understanding and usage of "eat one's heart out."

The idiom "eat someone's lunch" is used to describe a situation where someone is outperformed or outshined by another person. It conveys a sense of being dominated or defeated in a particular area or competition. For example, if someone is a talented musician and a newcomer arrives with even greater skill, you could say that the newcomer "ate their lunch."

These two idioms, along with "eat one's heart out," all involve the act of eating, but with different metaphorical implications. While "eat one's heart out" signifies intense longing or envy, "eat someone's lunch" represents being outperformed, and "eat one's feelings" pertains to using food as a coping mechanism.

These idioms create a rich tapestry of expressions that capture various aspects of human emotion and behavior. They allow for nuanced communication and provide a colorful way to convey complex feelings and experiences.

Know an earlier use or a better origin story?Tell us.