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eat one's heart out

Meaning: To suffer silently in a hopeless situation.

Language: English

Literally: (Already vivid in English)

Category: Body & Senses

Origin: Whereas cry over spilled milk is to grieve over some event that has happened and cannot be changed, eat one's heart out is to grieve over an emotional situation that cannot be changed. The expression is also used in the command form by someone who has no sympathy for the grieving person (as in sentence 2).

More idioms — Body & Senses

  • eat out of someone's hand — To be submissive; to have someone eating out of one's hand means to get someone to be sub…
  • fight tooth and nail — To fight fiercely; to fight with everything you have.
  • fine-tooth comb — An imaginary device one uses to look for something very carefully.
  • get a leg up — To make a good start on some activity or project.
  • get it in the neck — To receive something unpleasant, such as criticism or punishment.
  • get something off one's chest — To disclose or talk about something that is bothering or worrying one.

More English idioms

  • get something on the nose — To do or understand something perfectly.
  • get something through one's head — To understand something that is difficult, especially because it is a shock, unwanted, or…
  • get someone the cold shoulder — To ignore someone intentionally.
  • get someone a hand — To help someone.
  • give one's right arm to do something — To want something very much.
  • give someone the shirt off one's back — To give (figuratively) someone all one's possessions; to be very generous.

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