heart in the right place, to have one's

have (one's) heart in the right place

To have benevolent intentions. The phrase is used especially when one's actions have negative results. Grandma has her heart in the right place, but I would never wear any of the clothes she sends me. Gerri have her heart in the right place, but honestly she usually just ends up getting in the way when we're trying to do work. You don't know Phil like I do. Don't ever assume that manipulative jerk has his heart in the right place.

See also: have, heart, place, right

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

heart in the right place, to have one's

To mean well; to have good intentions. This term dates only from about 1800 but quickly gained currency. Among the many writers who used it were Benjamin Disraeli (in his novel Infernal Marriage, 1834) and Helen MacInnes (in her thriller Above Suspicion, 1941).

See also: have, heart, right, to

The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer