Words at Play : Top 10 Phrases from Shakespeare
What it means:
to display feelings openly
How Shakespeare Used It:
Discussing his planned betrayal of Othello, the villain Iago says, "But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve / For daws to peck at: I am not what I am." (Othello, Act 1, Scene 1)
In fact, Iago does not display his feelings for birds to peck at: his true feelings will never be revealed.
Modern example:
"I wear my heart on my sleeve and confessed my true feelings to a man who did not reciprocate. Now I am free to move on ..." — Daydreamin on Twitter, Mar. 12, 2010
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