Another silly poll - bless its heart! - My Gorgeous Life

esprix

Oct. 28th, 2004 11:10 am (UTC)

Well sure, but I was just wondering how most people see it used most often.

sistercoyote

Oct. 27th, 2004 11:58 am (UTC)

It's more a combination of #1 and #2, depending on context.

When, however, "fuzzy little" is added to the phrase, it's much more insulting ("bless your fuzzy little heart"). Unless you're talking to the dog.

esprix

Oct. 28th, 2004 11:10 am (UTC)

That makes it MORE insulting? ::confused::

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adventdragon

Oct. 27th, 2004 12:03 pm (UTC)

I lean more towards 2 and 3 with a smattering of 1. Your use of it more as 2 has given me this perspective.

esprix

Oct. 28th, 2004 11:10 am (UTC)

Of course. I influence all things in your life.

jkusters

Oct. 27th, 2004 12:03 pm (UTC)

I'd never really heard the phrase till you started talking about it. I'm wondering if it's a regional thing.

JOhn.

(Deleted comment)

esprix

Oct. 28th, 2004 11:11 am (UTC)

Ah, see, my co-worker was from the south as well, so that's one of the things I'm curious about is how regional it is. I originally heard it referenced from a southern person, but he used it exclusively as #2.

sacredessence

Oct. 27th, 2004 12:11 pm (UTC)

Well, I always thought it was something religious people said meaning "May God bless your heart"

esprix

Oct. 28th, 2004 11:11 am (UTC)

I'm sure that's where it derived from. Hmmm.

buddykat

Oct. 27th, 2004 12:20 pm (UTC)

All of the above, depending on context and tone of voice.

moonpuppy61

Oct. 27th, 2004 12:22 pm (UTC)

I would see it as the first two interpretations. It would all depend on how it was said. Inflection is all when it comes to sarcasm.

adventdragon

Oct. 27th, 2004 12:24 pm (UTC)

WORD!

rvrjoe775 - Oct. 27th, 2004 12:39 pm (UTC) - Expand

esprix - Oct. 28th, 2004 11:11 am (UTC) - Expand

montrealais

Oct. 27th, 2004 01:33 pm (UTC)

#1 and #2 (although I usually put it right after the noun for #2: "Alexa McDonough, bless her heart, speaks French like a drunk Vancouver weatherman.") #3 could be possible with a sarcastic inflection.

esprix

Oct. 28th, 2004 11:12 am (UTC)

I like it at the end better - really takes the edge off the insult. ;)

akirashima

Oct. 27th, 2004 03:28 pm (UTC)

All THREE but i have heard it more for Number three myself and in church camp thats how we used it so as to not get in trouble

"Why you little ... Bless your heart!" Always said with a smile!

and of course the ever popular
"Why Bless your lump of cardiovascular tissue!"

esprix

Oct. 28th, 2004 11:12 am (UTC)

Interesting...

lilairen

Oct. 27th, 2004 04:04 pm (UTC)

I'm a damnYankee; it's not a part of the dialect I use.

I am most familiar with it as #2.

blackvinylangel

Oct. 27th, 2004 06:19 pm (UTC)

I think your co-worker is an idiot...

esprix

Oct. 28th, 2004 11:12 am (UTC)

She's just southern. :) But I explained how I meant it and she was fine.

hazelchaz

Oct. 27th, 2004 06:29 pm (UTC)

Bless your heart

Well, it certainly depends on context.

I was at an airport in Tulsa, waiting for my plane home. I had a stack of carry-on luggage and laptop and so forth, and I managed to knock over my cup of iced tea on the floor.

And the nice lady next to me looked over and said "Bless your heart" as I started wiping it up... leaving it ambiguous whether she was remarking on my accident, or on my acting responsibly about it...

hazelchaz

Oct. 27th, 2004 06:30 pm (UTC)

Re: Bless your heart

Thinking about it, I think in the way she meant it was sort of along the lines of "Bless you, my sweet feeble-minded child..."

Re: Bless your heart -

esprix - Oct. 28th, 2004 11:12 am (UTC) - Expand

steelmagnoliaca

Oct. 27th, 2004 06:53 pm (UTC)

It's Regional

I am a Southern Belle and "Bless your heart" is our way of saying "Fuck you, you awful bitch" now on the other hand the phrase "I hate you with all my heart" is a term of great endearment.

Women, especially Southern ones are a tricky little creatures.

Valerie

esprix

Oct. 28th, 2004 11:13 am (UTC)

Re: It's Regional

See, that's exactly how my co-worker had always heard/used it, whereas I learned it as #2 (and at the time I meant it as #1). So it's not just her. Where in the south does it come from?

nolly

Oct. 27th, 2004 10:10 pm (UTC)

It varies. It can be one or two, or something more like "I appreciate your effort (even thoughg the result is not ideal)" "She tries, bless her heart, but it just isn't working."

esprix

Oct. 28th, 2004 11:13 am (UTC)

Yes yes!