mettre du baume au cœur

French

Etymology

Literally, “to put balm to the heart”.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mɛ.tʁə dy bo.m‿o kœʁ/, /me.tʁə dy bo.m‿o kœʁ/

• Audio

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Verb

mettre du baume au cœur

1. (figuratively, informal) (transitive with à) to warm the cockles of someone's heart, to gladden someone's heart (to be heart-warming)

   Synonym: faire chaud au cœur

   • 2016, Gaël Faye, Petit Pays [Small Country]:

     Les petites attentions qu’il avait parfois pour Maman me mettait de baume au cœur.

     The small thoughtful acts he sometimes did for Mum were heart-warming.