Street voices
Hugues
·
United States
"My heart skipped a beat. A phrase said to indicate a very sharp and sudden rush of emotions, whether it's fear, anxiety, or romance. Yo, dude, look at that girl over there. She's pretty, ain't she? Let me take a look. Oh my god. I think my heart just skipped a beat."
What it means
Means you get a sudden jolt of fear, nerves, or excitement, like your heart literally missed one thump. People use it for jump scares, crushes, near-misses, and nasty prices, anywhere your body does that little panic hiccup. It’s not medical talk, just a dramatic way to say you were properly startled or thrilled in the moment.
Usage examples
"My heart skipped a beat when the mechanic said it'll be nine hundred quid, mate. I just stood there like a muppet, pretending I’d misheard."
"My heart skipped a beat when I opened the envelope and saw I had won the scholarship, I had to read it three times to believe it."
Where it comes from
Borrows from the heart, which feels like it drops a single thump when fear or thrill lands. That tiny stumble of the body became the phrase for any jolt that catches you off guard.
Editors of this term
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