Southern Phrases

[countrygirl12]

When someone says "Bless your heart" in response to something (a southern phrase as far as I know) is that an insult? Because I kind of think it is. Kind of sounds like a smart A comment to me. 

[pkrahmer]

 I don't take the phrase "bless your heart"  as an insult. However,  I guess it depends on what they are responding to and the tone of voice in which they say it.

 To me "bless your heart "   Is a complement that you are a kind and loving. 

[paints]

It's according to how it's said, whether it's meant as insult or not. 

Most of the time, it's not meant in a bad way.

[hitch0403]

I agree....i think the way it is said and who is saying it...almost like when someone might say "i love you too"after that person insulted them.Then again it can be a response when someone told us they really loved us and really meant it.

[dreamyxo]

I don't think it's an insult.

[Skyisbluetoday]

I think it's something nice people say to each other. If you say have a good day to some body it means the same to me just in a different type of saying! 

[adriarobi]

It is an expression of "thank you". Originally, it was "God bless you", but in this growing unbelieving world and the desire to be politically correct, it has become Bless you. 

 I have never heard it used other than kindly, and I am 75.

 

[sbenkoski]

southern phrase ...  When I moved to Southern Oklahoma  I was really shocked at some of the talk I had to try and figure out....  LIKE  "fixing"   its not  i'm going to the store   it's i'm fixing to go to the store,  And Old gal  is any woman  not a real OLD one ! And a mess when talking about people is a good thing, so if some one would say she's a mess  " it a good thing "   Or when returning a phone call it's "I' ll holler at you later..."  Then the you' all meaning well just about any one  or a gang. 

[natashaspy]

It depends on the situation in our area. I use bless her/his heart a LOT and I'm in NC.  Sometimes it's a sign of sympathy if someone is having a hard time.  Others it's a sign of a polite insult.  Bless her heart, she's as dumb as a bag of rocks lol

[countrygirl12]

It is an expression of "thank you". Originally, it was "God bless you", but in this growing unbelieving world and the desire to be politically correct, it has become Bless you. 

 I have never heard it used other than kindly, and I am 75.

 

Never would have thought of it as a thank you.

[countrygirl12]

It depends on the situation in our area. I use bless her/his heart a LOT and I'm in NC.  Sometimes it's a sign of sympathy if someone is having a hard time.  Others it's a sign of a polite insult.  Bless her heart, she's as dumb as a bag of rocks lol

Well most times I have heard it I guess I thought it was more of a nice thing. Like someone is having a tough time, sick, then gets hurt whatever and someone says "bless her heart".

The situation I am referring to specifically I think the guy saying it is being a butt.  There is a girl that gets mistreated at work (I can't really do anything about it) and sometimes she mentions things that have happened that are not right.  And I agree it isn't right but again, I can't do anything. This guy comes thru our area and he is talking to her and she is upset about something happening and his response is "bless your heart".  I took it as he was being a smart A.  More like he was making fun of her than being nice. So I just wondered.  Like you said, there are several southern phrases that are actually smart butt comments but they sound nice.  There is one and I can't think of it and have heard it actually means more of kiss my A than what you are actually saying.  It will come to me after I turn this off and go lay down. lol

[sak4kat]

I didn't realize "Bless your heart" was a southern expression.  In fact is something I've said (come to think of it I think I say it more often than I realize)  I'm not sure where I picked it up from.  My father's roots are from Ky and my mother is European so I'm not sure if I heard it while growing up among them or if it's something I picked up socially?  I've used it as a compliment - usually when someone is doing something nice or saying/acting out of naivety.

[rghvac69]

I think it can be an expression of sympathy/thankfulness or a sarcastic way of saying "poor baby".

[ghunter]

I don't think it's an insult it is an expression of sympathy and my husband Aunt use to said it all the time when I tell her something the kids may have done and she would say oh bless his/her heart.

[patti4me]

I say it quite often to people telling me their woes and I never mean it as an insult.  I mean it as a gesture of understanding and sympathy for whatever the issue is.