Wear Your Heart On Your Sleeve

Wearing your heart on your sleeve has become eponymous of someone who does not hide their emotions. That person the cries at the end of sad movies or who may over hug when saying goodbye. Even those that get angry quickly. For the origin of this phrase we find our selves back in the middle ages and the tournaments.

As the knights were preparing to joust, the ladies of the court (noble women) would select their favorite knight to act as their champion. Sometimes it would come from a romantic link, sometimes not. (Medieval considerations of love an romance were sometimes complicated.)

The lady would present her knight with a scarf.  He dutifully tied this around his arm to secure his lovers brooch or other tokens. This was worn out in plain view for all to see. It came to be said the lady “pinned her hopes” on the knight while he “wore his heart on his sleeve.”