Have your heart in the right place Meaning in English

expression

US

HAV yor/yur HART in THUH/thee RYTE PLAYS

UK

HAV yaw HAHRT in THUH/thee RYTE PLAYS

Definition

If you have your heart in the right place, you mean well and your intentions are good, even if things don’t always go perfectly.

Usage & Nuances

This is an idiomatic, informal expression used to defend or praise someone's character. Often said about people who try to help, even if they make mistakes. It can sound gentle or forgiving.

• Spanish: tener buenas intenciones
• Portuguese (BR): ter boas intenções
• Portuguese (PT): ter boas intenções
• Chinese (Simplified): 有好心肠 - 出发点是好的
• Chinese (Traditional): 有好心腸 - 出發點是好的
• Hindi: अच्छे इरादे रखना
• Arabic: يملك نوايا طيبة
• Bengali: মন সঠিক জায়গায় থাকা - সদিচ্ছা থাকা
• Russian: иметь добрые намерения - иметь доброе сердце
• Japanese: 心は正しいところにある - 善意がある
• Vietnamese: có ý tốt - có lòng tốt
• Korean: 마음이 바른 곳에 있다 - 선의가 있다
• Turkish: kalbi doğru yerde olmak - iyi niyetli olmak
• Urdu: دل صحیح جگہ پر ہونا - نیک نیتی رکھنا
• Indonesian: berniat baik - hati di tempat yang benar

Example Sentences

She always has her heart in the right place, even if she makes mistakes.

basic

You can tell he has his heart in the right place by how much he helps others.

basic

My teacher has her heart in the right place, so I trust her advice.

basic

Don’t be too hard on him—he has his heart in the right place.

natural

Even though her plan failed, she definitely had her heart in the right place.

natural

People make mistakes, but what matters is if you have your heart in the right place.

natural