Until/to (one’s) heart’s content: Used since the 1500s.
Content means a state of satisfaction or peace while heart refers to one’s inner self. This idiom implies doing something until your heart is satisfied, peaceful, and happy. 3
Other idioms from the heart:
- From the bottom of my heart: you are really grateful about something that someone has done for you.
- With all my heart: giving a task everything you have got.
- I have a soft spot in my heart for you: you are fond of them in some way. This is not normally in a romantic way.
- Pouring my heart out: you open up emotionally by telling someone your story and how you really feel without holding anything back.
- Wearing your heart on your sleeve: you are very open about how and what you feel.
- I don’t have the heart to do that: when doing anything that you feel might upset or offend someone.
Shakespeare examples for Until/to (one’s) heart’s content:
Henry VI, Part II (1593)
“Her sight did ravish but her grace in speech,
Her word clad with wisdoms’ majesty,
Make me from wondering fall to weeping joys;
Such is the fulness of my heart’s content.”
Merchant of Venice, Act III (1596)
Lor. Faire thoughts and happy houres attend on you.
Ieffi. I wish your ladiship all heart’s content.
Por. I thanke you for your wish, and am well pleased.
Troilus and Cressida, Act I (1602)
“Then though my heart’s content firme love doth bear,
Nothing of that shall from mine eyes appear.”
Letter to Earl of Southampton:
“…if the first heir of my invention prove deformed, I shall be sorry it had so noble a godfather, and never after ear so barren a land, for fear it yield me still so bad a harvest. I leave it to your honourable survey, and your Honour to your heart’s content; which I wish may always answer your own wish, and the world’s hopeful expectation…”
