sweetheart
romantic partner you love deeply
A person you love romantically, like your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, or wife.
to be [someone]'s sweetheart
- After ten years together, he finally married his childhood sweetheart.
- She writes long emails to her sweetheart overseas every night.
- They met as college sweethearts and are still happily married.
- During the war, he kept a photo of his sweetheart in his pocket.
- I’m flying home this weekend to see my sweetheart.
- He wants to marry his sweetheart.
- She misses her sweetheart when he travels.
- My grandfather still sings to his old sweetheart.
- I met my first sweetheart at university.
- He bought a ring for his sweetheart.
affectionate way of addressing someone
A pet name you say to someone you love, for example to your husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, or child.
to call [someone] 'sweetheart'
- "Could you pass the salt, sweetheart?" he asked his wife.
- "It’s okay, sweetheart, don’t be afraid," the mother whispered to her child.
- "Thanks for waiting for me, sweetheart," she said to her husband.
- "Come here, sweetheart, let me fix your hair," Grandma said softly.
- "You did great, sweetheart," the coach told the little girl after the game.
- "Good night, sweetheart," she says to her son.
- "Thank you, sweetheart," he says to his wife.
- "It’s okay, sweetheart. I am here," the mother says.
- He calls his girlfriend "sweetheart" on the phone.
- The father says, "Come here, sweetheart," to his little girl.
very kind and thoughtful person
A very kind and nice person who often helps other people.
[someone] is a (real) sweetheart
- Our new manager is a real sweetheart and always listens to everyone.
- Thanks for bringing me soup when I was sick; you’re such a sweetheart.
- He may look tough, but he’s a total sweetheart once you get to know him.
- My neighbor is a sweetheart and often watches my kids after school.
- That was so thoughtful of you—you’re a sweetheart.
- My neighbor is a sweetheart. She helps me a lot.
- Thank you for your help. You are a sweetheart.
- He looks angry, but he is a sweetheart.
- Our teacher is a sweetheart. She is very kind.
- My sister is a sweetheart when I am sad.
overly favorable deal or contract
A deal or contract that is much too good for one side, often because of special friends or secret help, not because it is fair.
to make/sign a sweetheart deal with [someone]
- The company was criticized for receiving a sweetheart deal from the government.
- Investigators are examining a sweetheart contract awarded to the mayor’s brother-in-law.
- Opponents claim the tax cut is a sweetheart deal for large corporations.
- The union leadership was accused of agreeing to a sweetheart arrangement that hurt workers.
- Journalists uncovered a sweetheart loan given to the senator’s campaign manager.
- The small company got a sweetheart deal from the city.
- People are angry about the sweetheart contract with the big bank.
- The newspaper says the tax change is a sweetheart deal for rich people.
- The government denied that it made a sweetheart deal.
- They say the boss gave his friend a sweetheart deal.
- Base: sweetheart
- Plural: sweethearts
be a real sweetheart
1be very kind and helpful
To be very kind and helpful to other people.
- Thanks for picking me up at the airport—you’re a real sweetheart.
- Our new neighbor is a real sweetheart and brought us cookies.
- He looks serious, but he’s a real sweetheart once you talk to him.
be such a sweetheart
1act in a very kind way
To do something very kind or helpful, so that someone wants to thank you warmly.
- You were such a sweetheart to stay with me at the hospital.
- She’s such a sweetheart for helping the new students find their classes.
- Thanks for cooking dinner—you’re such a sweetheart.
childhood sweetheart
1romantic partner from childhood
A boy or girl you loved or dated when you were a child or young teenager, and often still remember later in life.
- He married his childhood sweetheart after they met again in their thirties.
- She still keeps photos of her childhood sweetheart in an old box.
- Many people dream of finding their childhood sweetheart on social media.
college sweetheart
1person you dated in college
A boyfriend or girlfriend you had in college or university, usually in a serious, long relationship.
- He moved abroad to live with his college sweetheart.
- She and her college sweetheart started a business together.
- My parents met as college sweethearts and never broke up.
high school sweetheart
1person you dated in high school
A boyfriend or girlfriend you had in high school, usually in a serious, long relationship.
- They’ve been together since they were high school sweethearts.
- She moved across the country to be with her high school sweetheart.
- He likes to tell the story of how he met his high school sweetheart in math class.
sweetheart contract
1overly favorable labor or business contract
A written work or business agreement that gives one side too many good conditions, often because of secret or unfair help.
- Union members accused their leaders of signing a sweetheart contract with the company.
- The report described the agreement as a sweetheart contract that hurt taxpayers.
- Investigators are checking whether the sweetheart contract broke any laws.
sweetheart deal
1unusually generous and unfair deal
A business or political agreement that is too good for one side, often because of special friends or secret help.
- Critics say the tax cut is a sweetheart deal for big oil companies.
- The investigation focuses on a sweetheart deal between the city and a real estate developer.
- Voters were angry when they learned about the sweetheart deal given to the contractor.