A significant shift in one's opinion, attitude, or feelings about something, often moving from negative to positive or vice versa.
This phrase dates to the 16th century and draws from the ancient belief that the heart was the seat of emotion and decision-making. The concept appears in religious texts, particularly the Bible, where 'hardened hearts' and 'changed hearts' represent spiritual transformation.
The phrase reflects an interesting linguistic evolution - while we now know the brain handles emotions and decisions, the heart metaphor persists because we still physically feel emotional changes in our chest area through changes in heart rate and breathing. Shakespeare used variations of this phrase multiple times, helping to cement it in English literature.
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