Dictionary — ontologydriven

bless someone's heart en · X

A conventional shortening of a wish May God bless (your/her/his/etc) heart.

Used to express gratitude. (Compare bless you, God bless you.)
Used to express affection.
- Bless his innocent heart, he looks too sweet for anything in his little short dresses, with his dear feet sticking out. 1917, Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne's House of Dreams:
(Southern-US, especially) Used to soften criticism or express pity. (Compare the British usage of bless (expression of endearment or belittlement).)
- My dog can't fit in her puppy bed anymore, but she still tries, bless her heart.
- We just moved my dad to a senior community, and I need to make sure he changed his gas service over to his new address. Bless his heart—he doesn't remember things the way he used to! 2002, Hack Proofing Your Identity In The Information Age, →ISBN, page 9:
- "Bless her heart, she doesn't have the fashion sense God gave a billygoat." 2008, Jerry Deriso, Save Me A Place In Heaven, →ISBN:
- “Bob had my permission to travel with Mister Jackson. Mister Jackson asked for his help, and I agreed.” “They must have tricked you, bless your heart. How could you know what they were plotting,” Mistress Dean said in her most sympathetic tone. 2004, Larry Michael Ellis, The Life and Legend of Robert "Black Bob" Renfro, →ISBN:
- They're having a hard time getting used to the food down here. They don't like grits — bless their hearts, they don't even like sweet tea.
(Southern-US, especially) Used sarcastically to express contempt.