HA! I learned since moving to MS that “Bless your heart” has MANY meanings, most none of them good!
Welcome to Mississippi!
As a Texan, I can say you are absolutely right! It's a smack down term.
I grew up in Arkansas and have tried to teach the concept of “Bless Your Heart” to people more geographically challenged (in other words Yankees) and they never get it. You’re right, it’s a constantly changing concept, with many meanings.
Gov. Palin, basically called that guy a moron (”Bless your heart, sir ...) and an a-hole in a very polite way.
“HA! I learned since moving to MS that “Bless your heart” has MANY meanings, most none of them good!”
Exactly!!!
I learned that from an Asian comic who married a Southern gal whose mother used the term. It was pretty funny.
In NC you can say anything you want about someone as long as you preface it with “Bless your (his/her) heart. Anyone from the south knows the patronizing expression. I am sure that most in the group loved her sweet way of saying it.
Here’s one I heard the other day, “She looks just like her daddy. Bless her heart.” It was not a compliment at all.
This saying comes from Romans 12:14,20,21
20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
I was surprised in the South when I heard that and the obvious meaning was "You are an imbecile." Southern ladies seem to be able to put on the perfect nuance so they can insult people without profanity and with a smile on their face.