have a heart-to-heart

Meaning

To have a serious, honest, and personal conversation with someone, usually about feelings, relationships, or private matters. It is typically a warm, supportive, and sincere discussion between close friends or family members.

Examples

• We sat down and had a heart-to-heart about where our relationship was going.

  We sat down and had a heart-to-heart about where our relationship was going.

• I think you need to have a heart-to-heart with your sister to clear the air.

  I think you need to have a heart-to-heart with your sister to clear the air.

• After a long heart-to-heart over coffee, we finally resolved our misunderstanding.

  After a long heart-to-heart over coffee, we finally resolved our misunderstanding.

• My dad and I had a real heart-to-heart last night about my future career plans.

  My dad and I had a real heart-to-heart last night about my future career plans.

• They haven't been speaking lately, so a heart-to-heart is definitely overdue.

  They haven't been speaking lately, so a heart-to-heart is definitely overdue.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I need to make a heart-to-heart with you.

  ✓ I need to have a heart-to-heart with you.

  The verb collocation is always 'have' or 'hold', never 'make'.

• ✗ We had a heart-to-heart conversation about our secrets.

  ✓ We had a heart-to-heart about our secrets.

  While 'heart-to-heart talk' is occasionally used, 'heart-to-heart' is already a noun meaning an intimate conversation. Adding 'conversation' is redundant.

Related Expressions

Practice

• My roommate and I finally had a ___ about our chores, and things are much better now.

  💡 An honest, personal talk.

  Show answer

  heart-to-heart

• If you're upset with him, you should just sit down and ___.

  💡 Use the verb 'have'.

  Show answer

  have a heart-to-heart