English · Greetings & Phrases
by heart
/baɪ hɑːrt/
[/baɪ hɑːrt/]
from memory
Intermediatephrase
Definition
To know or learn something so well that you can recite it from memory.
Example
She knows the whole poem by heart.
She knows the whole poem by heart.
Etymology
From an old belief that the heart was the seat of memory and intellect.
How & Where It’s Used
Common in education and learning contexts.
Literary Heritage
The phrase dates back to medieval times when the heart was thought to hold memory.