General Discussion

Heddi

(18,312 posts)

28. I'm from the south and Bless Your Heart does not in any way mean "Fuck You"

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)

Tue Jun 10, 2014, 07:07 PM

Jun 2014

It generally means "Dear God are you dim" or something along those lines but in no way equates to Fuck You. And even saying that, it's not **always** a hidden insult. It really can be a type of blessing.
Him: "My son just got back from Afghanistan. He lost three toes."
Her: "Well bless his heart! I sure hope he gets along okay.."

vs

Him: "My son just got back from Afghanistan. He said over there the women have beards and the men eat raw lobsters fresh from the sea. He saw it himself!"
Her: "Well bless his heart! I sure hope he comes home soon."

Heard "bless your heart" from every member of my family, close and distant, and it has never been used in any way other than to imply that the person they are dealing with is as dumb as a box of rocks, or to genuinely wish blessings upon someone (usually because they're dumber than a box of rocks, but not always)

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If a DUer said "bless your heart" to another DUer they are arguing with, would you vote to hide? [View all] muriel_volestrangler Jun 2014 OP

I think of it as being smart-ass rather than as an insult. arcane1 Jun 2014 #1

I think the jury system and hiding posts is bullshit and doc03 Jun 2014 #2

Yeah, i cant get used to this system randys1 Jun 2014 #5

Agreed. alphafemale Jun 2014 #37

I grew up in the south, mostly.... mike_c Jun 2014 #3

LOL - I just wrote the opposite OKNancy Jun 2014 #6

LOL-- I would never have guessed.... mike_c Jun 2014 #18

its all in the context d_r Jun 2014 #20

That was what happened in my home when I grew up too. Skidmore Jun 2014 #27

In the south ( USA) it's an insult OKNancy Jun 2014 #4

I think it's pretty much a Southernism, at least originally. Jackpine Radical Jun 2014 #7

Hmmmm 2naSalit Jun 2014 #40

Yeah, the northern usage is pretty straightforward & literal. Jackpine Radical Jun 2014 #47

I must confess 2naSalit Jun 2014 #49

I don't interpret the phrase like that. blogslut Jun 2014 #8

This one. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jun 2014 #14

My dad used to say it about JustAnotherGen Jun 2014 #19

Exactly. n/t tammywammy Jun 2014 #56

I've seen it used as an insult on DU several times mokawanis Jun 2014 #9

Once, in Meta, a DUer specifically stated that they were going to use the phrase Luminous Animal Jun 2014 #42

I've said it but meant it literally renate Jun 2014 #10

Nope Throd Jun 2014 #11

That phrase has multiple meanings, not necessarily the one in your OP Lars39 Jun 2014 #12

Nope. Wouldn't hide it... SidDithers Jun 2014 #13

My dad was a 'Bama man JustAnotherGen Jun 2014 #15

Other. I think it is an insult but is too mild an insult to hide (nt) Nye Bevan Jun 2014 #16

I wouldn't choose to hide (though I realize it is an insult) etherealtruth Jun 2014 #17

No. But bless your heart for asking. Hekate Jun 2014 #21

DUzy! scarletwoman Jun 2014 #25

I didn't know it was an insult.. I use it when the mood strikes me and I Cha Jun 2014 #31

IF you're looking for an insult, it's there Glitterati Jun 2014 #22

I wouldn't hide it because as insults go that is so tame. Much worse is left to stand routinely. redqueen Jun 2014 #23

Other. No, I wouldn't hide it, even though I can recognize when it's being used ironically. scarletwoman Jun 2014 #24

Other, and I won't alert on this for being Meta either. ScreamingMeemie Jun 2014 #26

I'm from the south and Bless Your Heart does not in any way mean "Fuck You" Heddi Jun 2014 #28

That was always how we used it, too. DeadLetterOffice Jun 2014 #57

Uh, are liberals and progressives a bunch of tattletale whiny crybabies? randys1 Jun 2014 #29

I'll say it, they are crybabies. Puzzledtraveller Jun 2014 #32

A very sensitive bunch who would alert on "bless your heart". Cha Jun 2014 #33

"bless your heart" randys1 Jun 2014 #41

It's funny 'cause I've been saying "bless their heart or hearts" for people that Cha Jun 2014 #43

Agreed The Road Runner Jun 2014 #46

No. Tierra_y_Libertad Jun 2014 #30

Out of context? Who in the fuck can answer this question? longship Jun 2014 #34

I think people can still read hidden posts so Leme Jun 2014 #35

Bless your fart. undeterred Jun 2014 #36

I never heard "bless your heart" used until I moved to NC. WorseBeforeBetter Jun 2014 #38

Other. Of course not! Until this joint is renamed the Democratic ... 11 Bravo Jun 2014 #39

Where's the WTH option? Owl Jun 2014 #44

Depends on who says it Capt. Obvious Jun 2014 #45

All I can say to the person who created this poll.."Bless your heart" Toots Jun 2014 #48

Some people don't like "fuck you" in an argument muriel_volestrangler Jun 2014 #50

While I find it to be on the snarky side Jake Stern Jun 2014 #51

Now we can't say "bless your heart"? madfloridian Jun 2014 #52

Somebody told DU it meant "fuck you" and DU was stupid enough to believe it mathematic Jun 2014 #53

Unless you're a Southerner, don't try to use "Bless Your Heart." moriah Jun 2014 #54

Civility is not defined by just a few words in a post, but in that and the arguments made CreekDog Jun 2014 #55

Not Americans generally, just passive aggressive religious southern women (but I repeat myself.) LeftyMom Jun 2014 #58

SO now I'm a passive aggressive southern woman. Who'd have thunk it. madfloridian Jun 2014 #62

Am I supposed to read minds? I had no idea you were the one who said "bless your heart" LeftyMom Jun 2014 #64

I am just surprised that it is considered a bad phrase to use. madfloridian Jun 2014 #65

I am talking about when there is already an argument between 2 people muriel_volestrangler Jun 2014 #67

Over-the-Top... Jeff In Milwaukee Jun 2014 #59

Nope. Even if it's meant as a barb, I wouldn't hide it... countryjake Jun 2014 #60

Unbelievable. madfloridian Jun 2014 #61

Contextually it can be an insult. Comes from an old joke Nevernose Jun 2014 #63

Nnnnnope. cherokeeprogressive Jun 2014 #66

It depends on the context. redgreenandblue Jun 2014 #68