bless someone's heart
Commonly used in Southern American English, "bless someone's heart" can convey a range of emotions from genuine sympathy to subtle criticism.
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Definition
B2General
(informal, southern US)A phrase expressing genuine sympathy or compassion.
Example
- When she heard about his accident, she said, 'Bless his heart, I hope he recovers quickly.'
B2General
(informal, southern US)A polite way to soften criticism or express mild condescension.
Example
- She looked at his mismatched outfit and said, 'Bless his heart, he tries so hard.'
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "bless someone's heart":
bless someone withheart balmdear heartwish someone wellopen one's heart