When used, this phrase often occurs in a situation of unintentional facetiousness that gives Georgians a polite internal chuckle. As if a squirrel would confidently propose a bridge over the Savannah made entirely of acorns to a busy civil engineer
I hear ya. But i just want to add that in a different context it can be a genuine sentiment said about someone who is going through difficult times, sickness, death. Also, an act of selflessnes. For example, if Jane devoted all her time to saving abandoned puppies. Bless her heart, she is such a dear woman.
As a northerner now living in South Carolina, I occasionally say, āBless your heartā to someone who does a kindness for me, and I immediately have to qualify, āI mean that in a northern way, I promise youā
It can get a bit awkward, I must say
It was news to me as a southerner when I first heard it was meant as an insult. I always heard people say "oh, their mom passed." "Well, bless their hearts." It always had a somber pass on their faces. Lol
It is very dependent on context and who's talking. It can be a very sweet sentiment meant in the kindest of ways. It can also be cutting.
For example, Sue's husband left her with six children and her mother is dying and she lost her job. Bless her heart. She has so many problems. <-- not an insult, just sympathy.
My mom's level of gossip was always characterized by how many adjectives and adverbs were added onto the classic bless their heart:
"She's always been a mess, bless her heart"
"She's always been a mess, she started drinking and drugging in high school, bless her poor little heart"
"She's always been a mess, she started drinking and drugging and sleeping around like an alley cat in high school. I think because her mama was just a drunk ho all the time, bless her poor little ole pea-pickin' heart"
( No idea what pea-pickin' has to do with anything, but when she threw out pea-pickin' on it, that was some sho-nuff gossip that would even insult your ancestors.)
It's the same in the Pee Dee. Like I know it's a big one people go to but when my family says it it's almost always like an awful poor thing. Like yesterday my mom was crooning it at a sick kitten that's missing both eyes.
The idea of "bless your heart" as strictly an insult is a myth perpetrated by people who have no idea what they're talking about. And for some reason "Southerners" have latched on to it.
It's not a myth. Think about when you use it in a compassionate way. It's usually someone who is sick/helpless/ that you pity. It's not hard to make the jump from using it for someone who is helpless to using it to CALL someone helpless.
Compassionate: Bless his heart, his wife left him.
Talking shit: Bless his heart, he can't keep anyone around.
Thank you! As a born and bred South Carolinian, thatās the best answer Iāve seen.
Itās all in the context of whatās going on. As an insult, itās saying that the person is deficient in some regard and āneeds a blessing.ā As a compassionate plea, it wishes a heartfelt blessing upon the person.
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Most I know have been said. āTheyāre a special kinda special.ā Sometimes when finding someone is from out of state Iāll say āYeahā¦that tracks.ā Nicknames are also nice. Like calling someone Blister cause they show up when the works done. The whole polite thing is stopping me from a lot š
Moved here 11 years ago from Vermont, definitely a South Carolina guy now. Butā¦
People used to call me a Yankee, and I would joke with them that Iām actually a Redsox fan. They would look at me like Iām a dumbass, but really my joke wasnāt that good.
Oh I knew what it was immediately the first time I heard it.
āYou going to Myrtle for Memorial Day weekend?ā
āHell no, itās gonna be too dark there. Iāll wait a week.ā
Thatās just how it be though, thatās how a whole lot of people here think. Theyāre careful about it though, theyāll only say it when they feel itās safe.
That idea can stay in Georgia.
I love this one!
Cannot wait to use this
When used, this phrase often occurs in a situation of unintentional facetiousness that gives Georgians a polite internal chuckle. As if a squirrel would confidently propose a bridge over the Savannah made entirely of acorns to a busy civil engineer
Wisdom is quick, but, bless her, she always could outrun it.
Do you have family in Sumter?
Or, if you're from Sumter, "Do you have family in Alcolu?"
I know both of these places lol
Dammit, my family is from Sumter š
āIām praying for themā for 2nd place.
āPlacing you at the top of the praying listā
Prayers lifted
wait you don't like buttering both sides of the bread ?
That dog donāt hunt.
My 6th grade math teacher - in Georgia lol donāt hate - always said this. It means itās not gonna work
Not sure I get this one
Lots of hunters around here. If a hunting dog wonāt hunt, itās not worth much.
Bless your heartā¦ ā¤ļø
Feel like you can end it here. Nothing politely stings more than this
I hear ya. But i just want to add that in a different context it can be a genuine sentiment said about someone who is going through difficult times, sickness, death. Also, an act of selflessnes. For example, if Jane devoted all her time to saving abandoned puppies. Bless her heart, she is such a dear woman.
This is mostly how Iāve heard it used in the real world. Reddit however, is not real life.
Grew up in south Carolina. You say bless their heart in a mean way behind someone's back. You say it in a compassionate way to their face.
As a northerner now living in South Carolina, I occasionally say, āBless your heartā to someone who does a kindness for me, and I immediately have to qualify, āI mean that in a northern way, I promise youā It can get a bit awkward, I must say
It was news to me as a southerner when I first heard it was meant as an insult. I always heard people say "oh, their mom passed." "Well, bless their hearts." It always had a somber pass on their faces. Lol
It is very dependent on context and who's talking. It can be a very sweet sentiment meant in the kindest of ways. It can also be cutting. For example, Sue's husband left her with six children and her mother is dying and she lost her job. Bless her heart. She has so many problems. <-- not an insult, just sympathy.
Inflection.
the classic
This is also how you politely gossip about people. "She's always been a mess, bless her heart."
My mom's level of gossip was always characterized by how many adjectives and adverbs were added onto the classic bless their heart: "She's always been a mess, bless her heart" "She's always been a mess, she started drinking and drugging in high school, bless her poor little heart" "She's always been a mess, she started drinking and drugging and sleeping around like an alley cat in high school. I think because her mama was just a drunk ho all the time, bless her poor little ole pea-pickin' heart" ( No idea what pea-pickin' has to do with anything, but when she threw out pea-pickin' on it, that was some sho-nuff gossip that would even insult your ancestors.)
Just moved here a few months ago and haven't heard it yet, but I am terrified for the day I do
Bless your heart.
Iāve lived here for 23 years and donāt recall hearing anyone say it. And my family is all from here.
Ohh Bless your hearts
Yep... That's the one
No it isn't. It's a genuine expression of sympathy 99% of the time.
It's the same in the Pee Dee. Like I know it's a big one people go to but when my family says it it's almost always like an awful poor thing. Like yesterday my mom was crooning it at a sick kitten that's missing both eyes.
The idea of "bless your heart" as strictly an insult is a myth perpetrated by people who have no idea what they're talking about. And for some reason "Southerners" have latched on to it.
It's not a myth. Think about when you use it in a compassionate way. It's usually someone who is sick/helpless/ that you pity. It's not hard to make the jump from using it for someone who is helpless to using it to CALL someone helpless. Compassionate: Bless his heart, his wife left him. Talking shit: Bless his heart, he can't keep anyone around.
Thank you! As a born and bred South Carolinian, thatās the best answer Iāve seen. Itās all in the context of whatās going on. As an insult, itās saying that the person is deficient in some regard and āneeds a blessing.ā As a compassionate plea, it wishes a heartfelt blessing upon the person.
My minor in linguistics finally helped me on reddit :-)
Not sure where youāre from but 99% of the time itās genuine. If not, Iām sorry.
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The guy version of this is: "...but he's a good dude." Ahaha.
š hell yeah
And it's "Bless your little heart" if they are a real jackass.
Sometimes I just say "bless...." And need not say any more. I don't have a strong accent, but it comes out when I'm being snarky
Yep; you nailed it
This
Came here to say this!
Any phrase beginning or ending with āwith all due respectāā¦.
Ricky Bobby style haha
Your Mama makes canned biscuits and unsweetened tea!
I get called a "cowboy" for getting unsweetened. I just prefer my tea undiabetes
That idea can stay in Georgia.
My diabetic mother uses a sweetener other than sugar.
Bless your heart
āGo back to Ohio!ā
Iām from Ohio šš
We know
Itās that obvious?!?!?
Ohio is a danger to the rest of the country! -Pennsylvania
Bless your heart
Join the dark side before itās too late!!
"You're about as fair as the weather" (If you know, you know) Or, "Oh, sweetie, you must've rode the bus to school...."
omfggg XD
Short bus
Short bus.
Hahaha yes correct short bus that I just got on.. My bad
She's so sweet...
Most I know have been said. āTheyāre a special kinda special.ā Sometimes when finding someone is from out of state Iāll say āYeahā¦that tracks.ā Nicknames are also nice. Like calling someone Blister cause they show up when the works done. The whole polite thing is stopping me from a lot š
Are you turtle?
Bless their heart, they ain't nobody's pretty young'un
Dumber than a doorknob
Dumber than a box of rocks
aint you a special one
Bless your heart.
Do you have a license to sell hotdogs ?
"Aren't you special".
His daddy damn sure didnāt call him son cause he was the brightest star in the sky.
"Your baby looks healthy" Aka: your baby is fat
Bless your heart
Sounds like something a Clemson fan would do.
sick burn
Ohh...bless your heart, dear. Helps if you marinate your retort with condescension
The lights on but nobody must be home (universal saying probably but I be laughing so hard irl)
Youāre fixin to swim a 10 yd race in a 20 yd pond (youāre plan will not work, ya dumb dumb)
Bless your heart.
Oh bless itā¦
āBless your heartā otherwise known as āFUCK YOUā
Bless your heart.
āHeeeersee your signā
Tell your mama and them Hey,,,, runs to the car!!!
Bless your shart
Lindsey Graham is a great Senator.
Bless her little heart
Moved here 11 years ago from Vermont, definitely a South Carolina guy now. Butā¦ People used to call me a Yankee, and I would joke with them that Iām actually a Redsox fan. They would look at me like Iām a dumbass, but really my joke wasnāt that good.
Bless your heart
You must be a Clemson fan!
You must be a Cocks fan..
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My hubby insults me by telling me I'm from NYC!š
I tell my fiancĆ© all the time sheās from Hershey highway or Iāll say to go back to Hershey highway lol (sheās from Pennsylvania)
Are you from Ohio?
"You do you honey"
āWell you seeā
I love this one! With your permission, I'm gonna start using it from now on lol
Bless your heart Ya follow me Bo?
'The lights are on, but no one's home"
The lights are on but nobody's home
You like cocks. (Gamecocks)
Thoughts and prayers
Whenever someone refers to a place as ādark.ā Iykyk
When I was a kid and my mom said that I honestly thought she meant it got darker in some neighborhood sooner than in ours. Sigh.
Oh I knew what it was immediately the first time I heard it. āYou going to Myrtle for Memorial Day weekend?ā āHell no, itās gonna be too dark there. Iāll wait a week.ā Thatās just how it be though, thatās how a whole lot of people here think. Theyāre careful about it though, theyāll only say it when they feel itās safe.
Iād be too sensitive to the anti-black angle here. We donāt want that!!
Too many Goths and Emos most likely.
Oh yeah thatās it š¬
Bless your heart obvs
āBless your heart.ā
Well is he your dad or uncle?
Awww bless it.
Wisdom dances just beyond them.
Not today sweet heart, not today....(Or ANY DAY BETWEEN NOW & THE END OF TIME...DONT MESS WITH ME)...(SWEETY)
āBless your heartā - to your face, conveys compassion. āBless his/her/their heartā - when the subject is absent, polite insult.