Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
tug-at-the-heartstrings
idiom
/tʌɡ æt ðə hɑrt strɪŋz/
Definition
To evoke deep emotions or feelings of sympathy and compassion.
Examples
- The movie’s ending really tugged at my heartstrings.
- Her story about overcoming challenges truly tugged at the heartstrings of everyone in the audience.
- The charity’s campaign aimed to tug at the heartstrings of potential donors.
Meaning
This phrase describes the act of stirring someone’s emotions, often associated with sadness or nostalgia, prompting empathy or emotional engagement.
Synonyms
- evoke emotions
- stir feelings
- appeal to emotions
