tug at somebody's heartstrings

US /tʌɡ æt ˈsʌm.bə.diz ˈhɑːrt.strɪŋz/
UK /tʌɡ æt ˈsʌm.bə.diz ˈhɑːrt.strɪŋz/
"tug at somebody's heartstrings" picture
1.

to cause strong feelings of love or sympathy in someone

:
•
The story of the lost puppy really tugged at my heartstrings.
•
Her sad eyes always tug at his heartstrings.
:
tug of warsomebodyon somebody's behalfon somebody’s heelsput somebody up tobring somebody to justicelead somebody astray