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heartstring

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play on someone's heartstrings

Fig. to attempt to get sympathy from someone. She is crying so she can play on your heartstrings and try to get you to take her home.

See also: heartstring, on, play

tug at your heartstrings

also pull on your heartstrings

to cause strong feelings of affection or sympathy He looked into his son's smiling eyes and felt a tug on his heartstrings.

Usage notes: sometimes used with other verbs: The stories he told plucked at your heartstrings.

See also: heartstring, tug

tear/tug at your heartstrings

  also tear/tug at the heartstrings

if something or someone tugs at your heartstrings, they make you feel strong love or sympathy It's the story of a lost child - guaranteed to tug at the heartstrings.

See also: heartstring, tear