Absence makes the heart grow fonder

Meaning

Our feelings for people and things grows when we are apart from them.

Examples

I enjoyed visiting Italy but after a few weeks I couldn’t wait to get home to my wife. As they say – absense makes the heart grow fonder.

Where did it originate?

The United Kingdom – 19th century.

Where is it used?

Still used, predominantly in the UK, mostly by the older generation.

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About the Author

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder