Learning English

Inspiring language learning since 1943

(Image: Getty)

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Learn more about feelings and emotions

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Introduction

Here's an expression for when something makes you feel strong emotions.

Transcript

Feifei
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak, where we explain phrases used by fluent English speakers so that you can use them, too! I'm Feifei, and I'm joined by Georgie.

Georgie
Hi Feifei! How are you doing?

Feifei
I'm well, thank you. What about you?

Georgie
I actually feel quite emotional, Feifei! This morning, I watched a video about a man who was reunited with his pet dog after it had been missing for three weeks! It was a beautiful story – it really tugged at my heartstrings!

Feifei
Ah, how sweet. Now, you said the story 'tugged at your heartstrings', and that's the phrase we're looking at in this programme. 'Tug' or 'pull' at the heartstrings means that something brings out strong emotions.

Georgie
That's right, but particularly emotions you might associate with the heart – things like love, compassion, sympathy or sadness. So, imagine something literally pulling on the nerves or strings attached to the heart. Feifei, when was the last time something pulled at your heartstrings?

Feifei
Recently, I've been following this soap on TV, and the two main characters really want to be with each other, and they’ve overcome a lot of difficulties and we, the audience, really wanted them to be together as well. But in the end, they still couldn't be with each other. It really tugged at my heartstrings.

Georgie
Oh, I bet it did!

Feifei
Let's hear more examples from our BBC Learning English colleagues.

Examples
I saw my niece perform a song from a musical and it really tugged at my heartstrings.

So, my friend has just got a puppy and he is so cute! He was really tugging at my heartstrings.

I was going through my stuff from high school, and I saw all the silly things I did with my friend and all the old memories started tugging at my heart strings.

Georgie
Now, we often hear references to the heart when we talk about emotions, don't we?

Feifei
Yes, in a similar way, if something affects you emotionally, you can say that it 'touched your heart', like that video you watched about the man and his dog probably touched your heart.

Georgie
It did. And if something 'melts your heart' it means you start to feel emotional about something that maybe you didn't before. It's the idea that your heart was icy and cold but now it's melted.

Feifei
OK, let's recap. We've learned 'tug at the heartstrings', which means something makes you feel emotions like sympathy, love and compassion.

Georgie
Remember to check out our website: bbclearningenglish.com for more resources to help you improve your English. Thanks for joining us. Bye!

Feifei
Bye!

Latest The English We Speak

Turn over a new leaf
Episode 241230 / 30 Dec 2024
Turn over a new leaf with this episode!
You can't go wrong with
Episode 241223 / 23 Dec 2024
You can't go wrong with this episode!
The flip side
Episode 241216 / 16 Dec 2024
What does 'the flip side' mean?
In my travel era
Episode 241209 / 09 Dec 2024
What does it mean if you're 'in your travel era'?
Give it some welly!
Episode 241202 / 02 Dec 2024
Learn a fun, encouraging British English expression.
Shoehorn something in
Episode 241125 / 25 Nov 2024
My friend shoehorns that topic into every conversation...
On the fly
Episode 241118 / 18 Nov 2024
Can you learn new phrases on the fly?
That's on you
Episode 241111 / 11 Nov 2024
Not learnt this phrase yet? That's on you!
Warts and all
Episode 241104 / 04 Nov 2024
I love my dog, warts and all!
Off the scale
Episode 241028 / 28 Oct 2024
This lesson is off the scale!
Throw one's toys out the pram
Episode 241021 / 21 Oct 2024
Come on! Don't throw your toys out the pram...
Makes my skin crawl
Episode 241014 / 14 Oct 2024
What makes your skin crawl?
An uphill task
Episode 241007 / 07 Oct 2024
What do you find an uphill task?
Bide someone's time
Episode 240930 / 30 Sep 2024
When is it good to bide your time?
From the get-go
Episode 240923 / 23 Sep 2024
I loved English from the get-go!
Stomping ground
Episode 240916 / 16 Sep 2024
Really? That's my old stomping ground!
Tug at the heartstrings
Episode 240909 / 09 Sep 2024
When was the last time something tugged at your heartstrings?
Clutch at straws
Episode 240902 / 02 Sep 2024
When were you last in a desperate situation?
Crank up
Episode 240826 / 26 Aug 2024
Crank up your vocabulary knowledge with this programme
Find your groove
Episode 240819 / 19 Aug 2024
Have you found your groove?
Top-notch
Episode 240812 / 12 Aug 2024
Have you eaten anything top-notch recently?
Off the cuff
Episode 240805 / 05 Aug 2024
What have you done or said off the cuff?
Take the wheel
Episode 240729 / 29 Jul 2024
What’s the metaphorical meaning of ‘take the wheel’?
The works
Episode 240722 / 22 Jul 2024
Have you ever ordered a pizza with ‘the works’?
Dip your toe into
Episode 240715 / 15 Jul 2024
How does it feel to dip your toe into something new?
Ham-fisted
Episode 240708 / 08 Jul 2024
Are you ever ham-fisted?
Second nature
Episode 240701 / 01 Jul 2024
What's second nature to you?
Take the plunge
Episode 240624 / 24 Jun 2024
Take the plunge and learn this new expression
Peaks and troughs
Episode 240617 / 17 Jun 2024
This phrase will help you talk about the ups and downs of life.
Heavy lifting
Episode 240610 / 10 Jun 2024
Do you have to do all the heavy lifting?
stir the pot
Episode 240603 / 03 Jun 2024
How do you feel when people are stirring the pot?
wishy-washy
Episode 240527 / 27 May 2024
Here's an expression to use when things are just too vague
Shook
Episode 240520 / 20 May 2024
A word to express surprise or shock. Learn more here.
Let loose
Episode 240513 / 13 May 2024
An expression that means relax and celebrate. Learn more here
Zing
Episode 240506 / 06 May 2024
How can you give your English learning a bit of zing?
Do the trick
Episode 240429 / 29 Apr 2024
Learn the expression 'do the trick'
Beige flag
Episode 240422 / 22 Apr 2024
I find it weird. It's a beige flag.
Lay it on thick
Episode 240416 / 16 Apr 2024
The best book in the world? That's laying it on a bit thick.
Telling porkies
Episode 240409 / 09 Apr 2024
Learn the expression 'telling porkies'
In on it
Episode 240402 / 02 Apr 2024
Can we let you in on this phrase?
Walk someone through
Episode 240325 / 25 Mar 2024
Let us walk you through how to use this phrase.
Brick by brick
Episode 240318 / 18 Mar 2024
There are some things that you have to build up gradually. This phrase will help you talk about them.
Cook up an idea
Episode 240311 / 11 Mar 2024
A phrase that means to come up with an idea carefully.
Read the room
Episode 240304 / 04 Mar 2024
A phrase that means to work out how people feel.
Rinse repeat
Episode 240226 / 26 Feb 2024
It's the same every day! Rinse, repeat
A million to one
Episode 240219 / 19 Feb 2024
Don't take this literally
Cash in on something
Episode 240212 / 12 Feb 2024
Do you have anything you can cash in on?
Makes your hair stand on end
Episode 240205 / 05 Feb 2024
What makes your hair stand on end?
On the go
Episode 240129 / 29 Jan 2024
A phrase to describe how busy you are
A blow
Episode 240122 / 22 Jan 2024
It'll be a blow if you don’t watch this lesson
Rear its head
Episode 240115 / 15 Jan 2024
What things can rear their ugly heads?
Elbow grease
Episode 240108 / 08 Jan 2024
What do we use elbow grease for?
Bring to the party
Episode 240102 / 02 Jan 2024
A phrase about offering something positive