Would you like to let people know that someone is a real one of a kind type of person, or that someone is really special to you and what you value? The phrase 'a man after my own heart' can be used to say this, and there are several creative ways to put this saying to use. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this common saying.
Meaning
The phrase 'a man after my own heart' is a figurative comparison phrase that is used to mean that someone is close to someone emotionally, or close to someone in terms of their values and morals.
To say that someone is 'a man (woman) after my own heart' is generally seen as a compliment that says people see things in the same way or share the same values.
'A man after my own heart' can be used in a joking, usually friendly manner when speaking to someone.
Sometimes the phrase is used as a simple means of agreement that says two people see things in the same way, or that they agree on something.
The term can be used to refer to any sex or gender, though the phrase is adapted accordingly in order to suit what is being said.
The phrase can be used in both a singular and plural form to refer to one person or several, with the phrase being adapted accordingly to fit what is being said.
Example Usage
“I never knew that the King liked bacon just as much as I do. That's a man after my own heart!”
“We didn't know about our mutual love for bacon until our cousins went on a date together. They had one look at each other, and he knew that was a man after his own heart.”
“If he isn't a man right after your own heart, then you're not going to have much to talk about when you're around the neighborhood barbecue.”
“That's a man right after my own heart. Did you see how well he navigated the buffet menu like it was absolutely nothing?”
Origin
The phrase 'after my own heart' owes its origin and popular use to its appearance in the English translation of the King James Bible, where it is used in 1 Samuel 13:14.
The translation of the Bible from which the phrase originates has been in popular circulation since at least the 1600s, with the saying experiencing lows and heights in its use over the years.
The common phrase has become a modern popular culture reference, where it has been used in movies, series and more. The phrase has even appeared as a reference through Shakespeare's work, by which the term's use was already common.
Modern use of the term has brought it to message boards, online content and social media, where the meaning of the phrase has remained unchanged since its early origin.
Phrases Similar to A Man After My Own Heart
- Seeing eye to eye
Phrases Opposite to A Man After My Own Heart
- Don't sit around the same table
What is the Correct Saying?
- [he is] a man after my own heart
Ways People May Say A Man After My Own Heart Incorrectly
There are several ways in which someone could use the phrase 'a man after my own heart' in the wrong way, or misunderstand the context in which the phrase has been used.
The phrase can be used as a compliment, and can usually be applied to say that someone is a 'person after my own heart'.
Due to its popularity through the English translation of the King James Bible, the phrase does not translate well to other languages and its meaning might be lost.
Acceptable Ways to Phrase A Man After My Own Heart
The right way to use the phrase 'man after my own heart' is to use the term as a statement, serious or joking, to say that someone shares your values.
The phrase can be used to refer to any gender, but the phrase can also be adapted.