heart of gold

The origin and history of "heart of gold"

Its origin can be traced back to the 14th century, when the word "gold" was used to refer to something valuable, noble, or excellent. In the 16th century, the phrase "a heart of gold" was used to describe a person who had a kind and generous nature. The phrase gained wider recognition in the 19th century with the publication of William Shakespeare's play "Henry V", in which the character of the king is described as having a "heart of gold". Since then, the phrase has become a common idiom in the English language, used to describe people who are kind, selfless, and compassionate.