heart of gold

Idioms

A very kind and good nature, as in Bill is very generous; he has a heart of gold. This expression alludes to gold in the sense of “something valued for its goodness.” [Late 1500s]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Contrary to the public persona cultivated by another star Fox launched in the 1980s, Johnny Depp, Perry did not appear to be interested in living up to the “bad boy with a heart of gold” image written for him.

From Salon

He does have a “Heart of Gold,” after all.

From Los Angeles Times

In a tribute, Ratcliffe's family described him as a "true selfless hero with a heart of gold, who was so cruelly taken trying to save others".

From BBC

Spear is a knuckle-dragging Neanderthal with a heart of gold, and Fang’s a Tyrannosaurus rex who cares about Spear enough to refrain from eating him.

From Salon

Paying tribute, Mark's family previously described him as a "true selfless hero with a heart of gold, who was so cruelly taken trying to save others".

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023