Ready for today's idiom? Its origin is quite uncertain however it should be part of every student set of idioms.
'I know Shakespeare poems by heart'.
'He's learnt many equations by heart'.
For Spanish people it would be easy to understand if we say 'know something from memory' as they will translate it. Also, you could say its meaning is very similar to 'Learn by heart' and I guess they share an origin.
For the ancient Greeks the heart was the most noticeable internal organ and so for them it was the seat of memory and intelligence. This belief was passed down through the ages and became the basis for the English expressions 'Learn by heart' and 'Know by heart'.
Again, both idioms origin is uncertain however it's always good to relate them with a story the students can remember.
Cheerio and have a jolly week!
BP
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