have one's heart in one's boots

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have one's heart in one's boots (third-person singular simple present has one's heart in one's boots, present participle having one's heart in one's boots, simple past and past participle had one's heart in one's boots)

1. (UK, informal) To feel very sad.
2. (informal) To feel very afraid; to be terrified or in dread.

• one's heart in one's mouth

• downhearted

• “sb s heart is in his her boots”, in Cambridge English Dictionary, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Cambridge University Press, 1999–present.
• “have ones heart in ones boots”, in Collins English Dictionary.