Re: Phrase

Posted by James Briggs on September 02, 2000

In Reply to: Phrase posted by C Payne on September 02, 2000

: where did the phrase "warm the cockles of your heart" originate from ?

To warm the cockles of your heart implies a feeling of pleasure and affection. The cockles here are said to come from the belief that 17th century anatomists likened the shape of the ventricles of the heart to that of the marine mollusc of the same name and, of course, the heart has always been regarded as the seat of love and affection.