What does ‘have a heart of gold’ mean?
To “have a heart of gold” means to be very kind and generous. The phrase appears in Shakespeare's Henry V (IV.i). Brewer's includes it among Shakespearean phrases now proverbial.
Origin
- The phrase appears in Shakespeare's Henry V (IV.i). Brewer's includes it among Shakespearean phrases now proverbial.
How to use it
- Warm praise, usually said sincerely.
- Example: She has a heart of gold — she'd give you her last dollar.
Source:
Last verified: 2026-07-18
- Definitions and origins are drawn from public-domain reference works, primarily Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898), with modern usage notes clearly marked.