💓 Heart in One’s Mouth: Feeling the Thrill and Chill of Fear 🦁
Heart in One’s Mouth, To Have One’s - To be frightened or extremely apprehensive. This term has nothing to do with eat one’s heart out but rather alludes to the heart-pounding and choking feeling of sudden fear. It was already used by Homer in the Iliad (ca. 850 B.C.): “My heart leaps to my mouth,” and appeared in English in Nicholas Udall’s translation of Erasmus (1548): “Hauyng their herte at their verai mouth for feare.” Mark Twain put it more colorfully: “My heart flew into my mouth so suddenly that if I hadn’t clapped my teeth together I should have lost it” (Life on the Mississippi, 1883).
This evocative expression captures the intense fear and nervousness one experiences in risky or surprising situations, where one’s heart seemingly leaps into the throat, making one feel almost suffocated by dread.
Synonyms
- Heart skips a beat: Even though it alludes to affection, it similarly implies surprise.
- Knocking knees: The exquisite dance knees perform when terrified.
- Cold feet: When one’s extremities take the frostier side of the emotional spectrum.
- Butterflies in the stomach: Sure, butterflies are cute, but not when they’re inducing a wing-flapping commotion inside you!
Antonyms
- Calm as a cucumber: Does this mean cucumbers are always zen?
- Steady as a rock: Who knew rocks were the symbol of composure?
- Cool as a cat: Because cats always keep their cool.
Fun-filled Quotes
“Horror movies? I might as well strap my heart into my mouth with a seatbelt!” — E. Z. Scared
“Fear makes the heart leap to the mouth, but never to the brain. Alas, bad jumps!” — A. Cautious Maker
Related Expressions
- Scared out of one’s wits: Perfectly describes that moment when your brain checks out.
- Jumpy: You’re either feeling antsy or the world’s best kangaroo impressionist.
Literature, Books, and References
- “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe: The creepy story of a whether you’ve got hearts leaping or telling tales, trust Poe to give you the goosebumps.
- “Rebecca” by Daphne du Maurier: The suspense is palpable, and hearts are surely mouths-bound!
Movies and Songs
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Movies:
- Psycho (1960): Watch if you want heart and bowel movements in unison.
- Jaws (1975): Seriously, just stay out of big bodies of water.
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Songs:
- “Thriller” by Michael Jackson - Just try keeping your heart where it belongs during this song.
- “Somebody’s Watching Me” by Rockwell - Heart to mouth? More like feet to the door.
Inspirational Thought: “Embrace the fear that makes the heart journey to the mouth; it is in the moments of terror that we most acutely feel alive.” — Ima Slangsmith
