bleeding heart

American  

noun

1. any of various plants belonging to the genus Dicentra, of the fumitory family, especially D. spectabilis, a common garden plant having long, one-sided clusters of rose or red heart-shaped flowers.

2. a person who makes an ostentatious or excessive display of pity or concern for others.

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bleeding heart British  

noun

1. any of several plants of the genus Dicentra , esp the widely cultivated Japanese species D. spectabilis , which has finely divided leaves and heart-shaped nodding pink flowers: family Fumariaceae

2. informal

   1. a person who is excessively softhearted

   2. ( as modifier )

      a bleeding-heart liberal

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Other Word Forms

• bleeding-heart adjective

Etymology

Origin of bleeding heart

First recorded in 1685–95

Example Sentences

A mentor suggested that Newman recharge his bleeding heart by volunteering with Minsun Ji, founder of Denver’s first day laborers’ center.

From Los Angeles Times

Anthony and Judy are really the bleeding heart of this film.

From Los Angeles Times

Alimouri’s “bleeding heart” came from his father, who fled Iran after opposing both the shah and the country’s Islamic regime, finding work in the United States as a chauffeur.

From Los Angeles Times

Have San Francisco voters lost the bleeding hearts they have been known for — or are they just frustrated?

From New York Times

I come into the world with this sort of open, bleeding heart — I expose myself because I’m a romantic.

From Los Angeles Times