hole in the heart: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Medical and literary/emotive metaphorical use.
Quick answer
What does “hole in the heart” mean?
A congenital medical condition where there is an opening in the septum dividing the chambers of the heart.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A congenital medical condition where there is an opening in the septum dividing the chambers of the heart.
A metaphor for a deep, persistent emotional pain, sadness, or feeling of emptiness, often from a personal loss, absence, or trauma.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The metaphorical use may be slightly more common in British literary contexts.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Similar frequency; the literal medical term is standard in both medical communities.
Grammar
How to Use “hole in the heart” in a Sentence
[Person/Event] left a hole in [Possessive] heart.There is/was a hole in [Possessive] heart.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hole in the heart” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The loss of his childhood home seems to have holed his heart forever.
American English
- That betrayal holed her heart in a way that never fully healed.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Could be used metaphorically in leadership/HR contexts: 'His departure left a hole in the heart of the design team.'
Academic
Common in medical literature for the literal meaning. Used in psychology/humanities for the metaphorical meaning.
Everyday
Primarily metaphorical in everyday conversation: 'Ever since she moved away, I've felt this hole in my heart.'
Technical
Standard term in paediatric cardiology and congenital cardiology.
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hole in the heart”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hole in the heart”
- Using 'hole in the heart' as the primary term in formal medical writing (more specific terms are preferred).
- Confusing the metaphorical use with the idiom 'break someone's heart' (which is more about romantic disappointment).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a common lay term and descriptive phrase, but in formal medicine, specific terms like 'Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)' or 'Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)' are used.
Almost never. It inherently denotes a negative absence, loss, or deficiency.
Yes, both literally (referring to multiple defects) and metaphorically (suggesting multiple sources of pain), though the singular is more common.
'Heartache' is a general term for emotional distress. 'A hole in the heart' is a more vivid, concrete metaphor suggesting a permanent or structural emptiness resulting from that distress.
A congenital medical condition where there is an opening in the septum dividing the chambers of the heart.
Hole in the heart: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhəʊl ɪn ðə ˈhɑːt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhoʊl ɪn ðə ˈhɑːrt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Wound to the heart”
- “Heartache”
- “A broken heart”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a valentine's heart with a literal, physical hole punched through it – this represents both the medical condition and the feeling of loss.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE HEART IS A CONTAINER FOR EMOTIONS / AN EMOTIONAL WOUND IS A PHYSICAL DEFECT.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'hole in the heart' MOST likely to be used literally?