This can be an insult, an expression of pity/sympathy, or even a compliment, depending on the context. As an insult, it can
mean a variety of things, ranging from "what an
idiot" to "
f*** you". In a more sympathetic way, it can mean something to the effect of "I feel bad for you/so-and-so" or "what a shame". As a compliment, it can actually mean "what a sweetheart" or "how
cute/sweet". In that sense, it's typically referring to someone's innocence or as a term of endearment.
Examples of "bless your/his/her/their (little) heart(s)" in typical conversation:
Insult (what an
idiot):
"His boss told him if he made another careless mistake when filing the data reports again, he'd fire him on the spot. Bless his heart."
Insult (f*** you):
"Hey baby, you've got to be the sexiest little thing here. How about you and I head back to my place and throw our own private party?"
"Bless your little heart. Thanks, but I think I'll pass."
Pity/Sympathy (I feel bad for you/so-and-so):
"Bless her heart, she worked so
hard to
bake a nice cake for her mom's
birthday. But she tripped while carrying it and it was ruined when it fell on the ground."
Pity/Sympathy (what a shame):
"He could have been top of his class, if he hadn'
t started started skipping class to hang out with those troublemakers. Bless his heart."
Compliment (what a sweetheart):
"I
don'
t know how she finds the time to raise those kids, clean her house,
work as a part time substitute teacher, volunteer for
church events, and still host occasional social gatherings in her home. Bless her heart, she's a saint!"
Compliment (how
cute/sweet):
"Look, mommy! We made macaroni
art at school today! Do you like it? I made it just for you."
"Bless your heart, you're so thoughtful. I love it! We'll put this on the fridge for everyone to see!"
