heart check
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A physical attack on a newly-arrived prisoner to determine whether they're willing to fight.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
I knew about heart checks from Rossetti – one of the few members of my security team who'd been to prison.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “heart check” mean?
A physical attack on a newly-arrived prisoner to determine whether they're willing to fight.
Is “heart check” formal or informal?
heart check is generally slang.