to eat one's heart out

Definition & Meaning of "eat one's heart out"in English

to eat one's heart out

PHRASE

to feel deep sadness or disappointment, especially over a lost opportunity or unfulfilled desire

to [eat] {one's} heart out definition and meaning

Idiom

Informal

What is the origin of the idiom "eat one's heart out" and when to use it?

The precise origin of the phrase "eat one's heart out" is uncertain, but it is thought to stem from the metaphorical connection between emotional pain and the physical sensation of heartache. This idiom is employed when someone experiences profound emotional distress or sorrow, often related to a lost opportunity, unfulfilled desire, or unrequited love.

Examples

After years of dedicated practice, she failed to make the team, eating her heart out over the lost opportunity to compete at a higher level.

As she watched her former partner happily marrying someone else, she could n't help but eat her heart out, feeling a profound sense of loss and longing.

eat your heart out

SENTENCE

used to tease or make someone feel jealous or envious