Bleeding Heart 💔
Definition:
An excessively sympathetic or tender-hearted individual. The adjective “bleeding” has been used figuratively for ‘full of anguish from pity or compassion’ since the late 1500s. The brilliant Edmund Spenser so used it in The Faerie Queene: “These bleeding words she gan to say.” The cliché is much newer, dating from the first half of the twentieth century. I. T. Ross had it in Murder out of School (1960), “A lot of bleeding-hearts got the idea they knew about everything.”
Related terms, synonyms, and antonyms:
Synonyms:
- Soft-hearted
- Tender-hearted
- Sentimentalist
- Good Samaritan
- Empath
- Do-gooder 🌟
Antonyms:
- Cold-hearted 🧊
- Hard-hearted
- Callous
- Unfeeling
Related terms:
- Bunny-hugger 🐰
- Tree hugger 🌳
- Gentle soul
- Big softy
- Sap 😊
Quotes, Proverbs, and Humor:
“While others collect coins or stamps, I collect heartstrings. So far, I’ve got a jar full of them!” – An Anonymous Bleeding Heart
“You don’t need a bleeding heart to feel others’ pain – just a stethoscope.” – Medical Wisdom
In Literature, Music, and Movies:
- Literature: Check out Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. Beth March is the ultimate bleeding heart.
- Songs: Listen to “Heal the World” by Michael Jackson. Pure bleeding heart sentiment!
- Movies: Pay It Forward (2000) where young Haley Joel Osment epitomizes compassion.
Thought-Provoking Insight:
Functional empathy is vital, but being a ‘bleeding heart’ might mean you wear your empathy on a 24/7 slot. This can lead to a feeling of emotional exhaustion, and though beautiful, perhaps sometimes, compassion needs a checkup. ✨
“In a world where you can be anything, be kind. Just don’t let it turn you into an emotional sponge soaking up everyone’s troubles without wringing yourself out.”
– Leslie T. Lovewords, October 2023
