at heart，by heart

這一組短語的涵義也各不相同。

At heart 的意思是“在心里”、“心底里”或“本質上”(from the heart，from the bottom of one’s heart or essentially)。by heart 的意思是“背誦”、“熟記”(by rote;to learn so well that one can remember it perfectly)。請看下面例句：

That socialite is a rascal at heart.

那個知名人士實質上是個壞蛋。

A councillor should have the collective interest of society at heart.

議員應當關心大眾的利益。

At heart，Mr.Lin does not approve your proposal.

林先生的心里并不贊同你的建議。

Mr.Wang looks stem，but he is kind at heart.

王先生看來嚴肅，但買質上他很仁慈。

I know this poem by heart.

我熟讀/我能背誦這首詩。

I don’t see the point of learning by heart all the dates in the history book!

我真不明白為什么要把歷史書里所有的日期都要記下來!

請注意下列短語的意思：(跟前例 have something at heart相近)

in one’s heart of hearts 在內心深處

take something to heart 認真考慮/關注某事

set one’s heart on something 決心做/得到某事/物

cut(or touch)sb to the heart 觸及某人痛處

one’s heart is in something 把整個心放在某事上