have heart in the right place
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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.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
have one's heart in the right place
Fig. to have good intentions, even if there are bad results. I don't always do what is right, but my heart is in the right place. Good old Tom. His gifts are always tacky, but his heart's in the right place.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
have (one's) heart in the right place
To be well-intentioned.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.