What is the origin of the idiom "have mixed feelings about someone or something" and when to use it?

The origin of the idiom "have mixed feelings about someone or something" is rooted in the understanding that human emotions and opinions can be multifaceted and contradictory. The phrase emerged from the recognition that individuals often experience a combination of positive and negative sentiments towards someone or something, rather than having a singular, uniform response. As a reflection of the complexity of human emotions, "mixed feelings" has become a widely used expression to convey the ambivalence and internal conflict that arises when different emotions or thoughts coexist.