How do you use "Heart Sinks" in a sentence?

My heart sank when I saw the exam questions. Her heart sank as she realised she'd left her passport at home. His heart sank when he saw the police car in his driveway. My heart always sinks when the phone rings late at night.

Heart Sinks

Q: What does "Heart Sinks" mean?

To feel sudden disappointment or dread When your heart 'sinks,' you experience that physical sensation of your stomach dropping when you receive bad news or realize something terrible. It's the moment of crushing disappointment or dawning dread.

Slang Term BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Meaning: To feel sudden disappointment or dread

心往下沉；感到失望或恐惧

Sentir que el corazón se hunde; sentir decepción o temor repentino

心が沈む；がっかりする

갑자기 실망하거나 불안해지다; 마음이 철렁하다

When your heart 'sinks,' you experience that physical sensation of your stomach dropping when you receive bad news or realize something terrible. It's the moment of crushing disappointment or dawning dread.

当你的心'下沉'时，你会体验到收到坏消息或意识到可怕事情时那种胃部下坠的身体感觉。这是压倒性的失望或渐渐涌来的恐惧的瞬间。

Cuando tu corazón 'se hunde', experimentas esa sensación física de que el estómago te cae cuando recibes malas noticias o te das cuenta de algo terrible. Es el momento de decepción aplastante o temor creciente.

心が「沈む」とき、悪い知らせを受けたり何か恐ろしいことに気づいたりしたときの、胃が落ちるような身体的感覚を経験する。圧倒的な失望や差し迫る恐怖を感じる瞬間。

마음이 '가라앉다(sink)'란 나쁜 소식을 받거나 끔찍한 일을 깨달았을 때 뱃속이 꺼지는 듯한 신체적 감각을 경험하는 것입니다. 극심한 실망이나 점차 밀려오는 두려움의 순간을 포착합니다.

Literal meaning: Feeling your heart drop downward in your chest

Examples

My heart sank when I saw the exam questions.
看到考试题目时我的心沉了下去
Se me cayó el alma a los pies cuando vi las preguntas del examen
試験問題を見たとき心が沈んだ
시험 문제를 보는 순간 심장이 철렁했다.
Her heart sank as she realised she'd left her passport at home.
当她意识到护照落在家里时，心一下子沉了下去
Se le hundió el corazón cuando se dio cuenta de que había dejado el pasaporte en casa
パスポートを家に置いてきたことに気づいて彼女の心は沈んだ
여권을 집에 두고 왔다는 것을 깨닫자 그녀의 마음이 쿵 내려앉았다.
His heart sank when he saw the police car in his driveway.
看到车道上的警车时，他的心沉到了谷底
Se le heló la sangre cuando vio el coche de policía en su entrada
自宅の私道にパトカーがあるのを見て彼の心は沈んだ
자기 집 앞에 경찰차가 있는 것을 보고 그의 마음이 철렁했다.
My heart always sinks when the phone rings late at night.
深夜电话响起时我的心总是一沉
Siempre se me encoge el corazón cuando suena el teléfono tarde por la noche
夜遅く電話が鳴るといつも心が沈む
밤늦게 전화가 울리면 항상 마음이 내려앉는다.

Pronunciation

/hɑːt sɪŋks/

Usage Guide

Context: bad news, disappointment, dread

Tone: descriptive, emotional

✓ Do Say

My heart sank.
我的心沉了下去
Se me cayó el alma a los pies
心が沈んだ
마음이 철렁했다.
Her heart sank at the news.
听到这个消息她的心沉了下去
Se le cayó el alma a los pies al oír la noticia
その知らせを聞いて彼女の心は沈んだ
그 소식에 그녀의 마음이 내려앉았다.
I felt my heart sink.
我感到心一沉
Sentí que se me caía el alma a los pies
胸が締め付けられるのを感じた
마음이 가라앉는 것을 느꼈다.

✗ Don't Say

Very common and acceptable everywhere
非常常用，到处都能接受
Muy común y aceptable en todas partes
非常に一般的でどこでも使える
매우 흔하고 어디서나 쓸 수 있는 표현입니다
Can be used in formal writing
可用于正式写作
Se puede usar en escritura formal
フォーマルな文章でも使用可能
격식체 글에서도 사용할 수 있습니다

Common Mistakes

Usually past tense: 'heart SANK' not 'heart SINKED'
Can be 'heart sank' or 'heart sinks' depending on tense

Origin & History

This phrase captures the physical sensation that accompanies sudden disappointment—a dropping feeling in the chest. The imagery of the heart (seat of emotions) falling or sinking has been used in English since at least the 16th century to describe this universal experience.

Etymology: From the physical sensation of heaviness in the chest during disappointment

First recorded: 16th century

Cultural Context

Era: 16th century onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Universal literary and everyday usage; Common in news reporting

Regional notes: Universal across English-speaking countries.

Variations

My heart sankHeart-sinkingA sinking heart