tug at the heart

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

I blame a script that forces laughs and plays too deep in sophomoric waters while attempting to tug at the heart strings rather than let her take comedic control.

From Washington Times • Jul. 28, 2016

They have put a man on a 10-ft. board, spun it around at various speeds up to 90 r.p.m. to simulate a tug at the heart as high as 4 Gs.

From Time Magazine Archive

These things tug at the heart of a sea-lover.

From Cornwall by Mitton, G. E. (Geraldine Edith)

The girl sat down at the piano, and there, to her own accompaniment, without the printed score, sang such songs of Provence as tug at the heart strings, one knows not why.

From Dross by Merriman, Henry Seton

But as he looked at his friend, all the supple strength stricken out of him, weak and helpless as a sick child, he felt a queer tug at the heart.

From Man Size by Raine, William MacLeod