A sudden feeling of disappointment, sadness, or dread, often in response to bad news or an unwelcome realization.
This metaphorical expression has been used since at least the 16th century, based on the physical sensation that the heart seems to drop or fall within the chest during moments of emotional shock. The imagery draws on the universal human experience of feeling a physical change in the chest area during emotional distress.
The 'sinking heart' metaphor appears across many languages and cultures, suggesting it captures a truly universal human experience. Physiologically, this sensation may be related to changes in blood pressure and heart rate that occur during emotional stress, creating the actual feeling of the heart 'dropping' or becoming heavy.
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