Choose the correct meaning of the given idiom/phrase from the options:
"Wear your heart on your sleeve"
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
Correct Answer
Express emotions openly
Explanation
The question asks for the correct meaning of the common English idiom "wear your heart on your sleeve."
To "wear your heart on your sleeve" means to allow your true feelings, emotions, or vulnerabilities to be clearly seen by everyone, rather than hiding or concealing them. When a person does this, their emotional state is entirely transparent to those around them. Therefore, Option 3 is the correct choice.
The other options are incorrect because they contradict or misinterpret the idiom:
Keep your feelings private is the exact antonym of the phrase.
Pretend to have emotions implies deception or acting, whereas this idiom represents genuine, unhidden feelings.
Be dishonest about your intentions is incorrect because the phrase is fundamentally about emotional honesty and openness.
Key Points
One popular theory of the idiom's origin comes from medieval jousting tournaments. Knights would wear a ribbon or a favor given to them by a lady on the sleeve of their armor to openly display their affection and allegiance. In competitive exams, you can pair this phrase with the idiom an open book, which also describes someone who does not hide their thoughts or feelings.