set one's heart on, to
set one's heart on someone or something
Fig. to be determined to get or do someone or something. I am sorry you didn't get to pick the one you wanted. I know you had set your heart on Fred. Jane set her heart on going to London.
See also: heart, on, set
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
set one's heart on
Also, have one's heart set on. Strongly desire something, as in I'd set my heart on a vacation in New Mexico but got sick and couldn't go, or Harry had his heart set on a new pickup truck. [Late 1300s]
See also: heart, on, set
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
set (one's) heart on
To be determined to do something.
See also: heart, on, set
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
set one's heart on, to
To have an earnest desire for; to determine to obtain something. The heart has long been equated with one’s innermost being, and to “set” it on something means to fix it in that direction. This term dates from the fourteenth century. It appears in the Bible: “If riches increase, set not your heart upon them” (Psalms 62:10). This passage is repeated in the Book of Common Prayer.
See also: heart, set
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- palm off, to
- keep an eye on, to
- cross paths
- bottom of it, at the/get to the
- dawn on (someone), to
- give (one) the fig
- (not) give a fig
- (not) care a fig
- fig
- catch (someone) with his pants down, to