ENGLISH
REFERENCE

warm the cockles of someone's heart

idiom
Meaning

Especially of food or drink (particularly an alcoholic beverage): to cause someone to feel deeply warm and comfortable; to comfort, to satisfy.


Origin

first recorded 17th c.

PIE word *ḱḗr Either from: * the similarity of a closed cockle (“European bivalve mollusk of the family Cardiidae”) to a heart; or * a corruption of Latin cochleae (“ventricles”) in cochleae cordis (“ventricles of the heart”). The term cockles of [someone’s] heart is first attested in 1671: see the quotation.

Examples
SIMPLE

A hot cup of tea always warms the cockles of my heart.

CONTEXTUAL

After walking home in the freezing rain, a bowl of hot soup really warmed the cockles of my heart.

COMPLEX

The sight of the family gathered around the fireplace, sharing stories and laughter, truly warmed the cockles of his heart on that bitter winter evening.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    absence makes the heart grow fonder

    One feels more love or affection for those one loves when parted from them.

  2. 02

    all heart

    Motivated by positive emotions, especially as productive of exceptionally generous or kind behavior.

  3. 03

    another nail in someone's coffin

    An event that increases the likelihood of or causes further failure.

  4. 04

    answer someone's prayers

    To be or do exactly what someone has been wishing or asking for.

  5. 05

    answer to someone's prayers

    Exactly what someone has been wishing or asking for.

  6. 06

    apple of someone's eye

    The object of somebody's affections; a person (or sometimes a thing) that someone strongly prefers; a favorite, a loved one.

  7. 07

    bane of someone's existence

    Someone or something that poses a significant problem to someone.

  8. 08

    bash someone's face in

    To beat someone violently.

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