heart skips a beat
phrase
informal
—used to say that someone is suddenly very surprised, excited, or nervous about something
When I learned I was on live television, my heart skipped a beat.
The shocking news made her heart skip a beat.
Cite this Entry
“Heart skips a beat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heart%20skips%20a%20beat. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
