Faint of Heart Meaning, Examples and Synonyms

The idiom Faint of Heart means Lacking Courage or strength to face a difficult scenario. It is often used to demonstrate a personality that is meek and cannot tolerate stress or stay put in difficult situations. 

It is usually spoken or written with tasks that involve courage. When you say someone is faint of heart that means they do not have enough strength for the task. This idiom has its origin in the medical world. 

As we know, someone who is faint or weak at heart cannot be through stress or stressful situations according to medical research. This, however, was referred whose hearts were medically weak. This means they were either operated on or have some disease. 

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Usage with Examples

In the present context of using this idiom, there is a shift of weakness of the heart being talked about. Nowadays, it is not in terms of medical ailments anymore, it is about the lack of courage and emotional strength. 

It’s used for people who are not strong enough to face a situation. These people tend to lose emotional strength quickly and give in to the situation emotionally. This phrase can be used for a specific person or a category of people depending upon the situation.

Here are some examples of how you can use the idiom, faint of heart in your daily conversations; 

• He is not the one who is faint of heart, he managed the news quite well.
• This adventure is not for the faint of heart, there’s unprecedented danger at every step. 
• This murder series is not for the faint of heart, it is too gore to bear. 
• Even if you are not the faint of heart, you would cry watching her act in this movie.  

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Synonyms and Similar Words to Faint of Heart

Here are some words and phrases that mean the same as faint of heart. 

• Fainthearted
• Timid
• Cowardly
• Fearful 
• Invertebrate
• Poltroon
• Chicken-hearted 
• Lily Liver
• Fraidy Cat

Faint of Heart Meaning Quiz

He misread me as someone who is faint of heart, the movie he took me for was_____. 

1. Very scary
2. A childish horror
3. A cinematic marvel

Ans. A childish horror

Also Read: Idioms for IELTS

This was all about the idiom get your act together meaning and examples. Hope you understood the concept where it’s used. For more such blogs, follow Leverage Edu.