not have the heart (to (do something))

to lack the desire or strength to do something.

I didn't have the heart to tell him his injury would prevent him from playing football.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form have the heart to do something - be able to do something:

How could we have the heart to disappoint Mom?

Related vocabulary: not have the stomach for something

• believe me
• be light-headed
• be light years away
• be light years away from
• be light years away from something
• be like a bear with a sore head
• be like a bull in a china shop
• be like a cat on a hot tin roof
• be like a child in a sweetshop
• be like a deer caught in the headlights
• be like a dog with two tails
• be like a fish out of water
• be like a kid in a candy store
• be like a rabbit caught in the headlights
• be like a red rag to a bull
• be like a spare prick at a wedding
• be like chalk and cheese
• be like Fort Knox
• be like looking for a needle in a haystack
• be like painting the Forth Bridge
• be like rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic
• be like ships that pass in the night
• be like taking candy from a baby
• be like talking to a brick wall
• be like two peas in a pod