# soft spot

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/soft-spot
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A sentimental fondness or affection.

## Examples

- I have a soft spot for old movies.
- She has a soft spot for stray cats and often brings them home to feed.
- Despite his reputation for being cold and calculating, he always maintained a soft spot for his childhood home in the countryside.

## Origin

Late 18th century. The term entered English as a compound of the adjective soft and the noun spot, appearing in the late 1700s to denote a specific physical or metaphorical vulnerability.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.