When a Southern lady says "Bless his heart" regarding someone, it means that he is as stupid as a box of rocks.
by Angel of the Morning March 1, 2020
Get the bless his heart! mug.A phrase uttered as an expression of sympathy, probably originated from southern US states. Usually tacked onto the end of a sentence to "soften" the blow as this is often used to describe something unfortunate. Can also function as bless her heart for women.
by KImCobain March 10, 2015
Get the bless his heart mug.Related Words
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!"
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!"
by TygraSol February 3, 2018
Get the Bless your/his/her/their (little) heart(s) mug.