what does "bless you" mean??

[helpmeexplainthis]

probably the most ridiculous post on here but please dont judge me for this!

what does 'bless you mean'? I dont mean in the context of sneezing, I mean if you said something to someone and they said "oh bless you" or "aw, bless you", or "aw bless."

A lot of my friends say it (possibly a regional thing where I have moved to) but its not a phrase I was familiar with before (outside the context of sneezing obviously!) I have started accidentally copying them and saying it but im not actually quite sure what it means or what the correct context is and I dont want to embarrass myself by asking in case it's obvious!

TIA.

I'm not sure it means anything very specific at all tbh! People round here say it in all manner of situations - when they're grateful for you doing something kind, when they feel sorry for you, when you have said something that they think is really sweet, when they think that you've said something that they think is really naive and clueless! I'm sure there are more....

I say it occasionally in a nice/kind way but have been known to say it during an argument as well, so I think it can be used either way 😂. Some of my friends/family say it too. I'm from the North West, so possibly a regional thing like you mentioned..

I think it’s mainly used in 2 ways.

1. if someone has down something kind. Maybe gone above and beyond in a customer setting, helped out in some way. I think I probably said it when I had young kids and someone helped me up stairs with the buggy at a railway station. That sort of thing.
2. to sympathise with someone situation - if they said they’d had a rough time, stubbed their toe, spilled coffee on their coat, dropped their shopping - I’d say oh bless you, what a crappy day you’ve had.

It’s usually used by dickheads as a very patronising way to shoot someone down as though you think they are an idiot, imo.

Person A: I really think X
Person B: Aww, bless you.

1. Sweetly and gently, as a lovely verbal hug.

1. Sweetly and sarcastically, as a verbal kick in the knees.

So it very much depends on the context of the conversation, really.

Round here, it would be:
‘Bless your heart ‘ if someone had done something nice for a another person.
Or even ‘ Bless your cotton socks’

Seems funny seeing that written down!

Awww bless ?? I’m not sure exactly!

With sneezing it's a historic thing to do with the plague. Sneezing was one of the symptoms, so people said bless you in the hopes you wouldn't get sick.

I thought historically it was something about spirits or something and you're blessing that person from evil spirits, now it's just a polite thing to say to acknowledge someone sneezing ... in saying that I'm not sure why we still do it, habit I guess. I feel weird if someone sneezes and I don't say it, and I don't know why!

I see it used either genuinely or sarcarstically to mean essentially 'I'm wishing good things for you'

So like if someone was helpful or kind, you wish good things for them.
People say it also to show they think someone is stupid like 'aw I wish good things for this fool, she's gonna need them'
Or as a thinly veiled fuck you.

I only know it as a nice thing to say. For example if someone isn't feeling well, if they've had a bad day, have done a favour etc.
I did read once that in some southern states of America it can be a sarcastic kind of put down. Like you're a bit dumb.

“Bless you” = kind
”Awe bless” = sarcastic
At least in large parts of the USA

I use it as @KittyAlfred has described!

Just realised this is NOT in the context if sneezing. In general I'd say generally the person is being sarcastic and thinks you're thick or naive; unless they're particularly nice they might be genuinely be blessing you.

Bloody hell I say ‘aw bless you’ a lot! But I only ever mean it in a genuine way to people I care about when they are going through something shitty. It’s not a stand alone statement though and I do elaborate. But yeah ‘aww bless you’ is my way of saying i empathise - worrying now that my friends think I am being sarcastic or patronising!

It's short for, "may God bless you". The sneezing thing was because people believed your soul could be taken from you through your mouth so sneezing was the devil trying to take your soul.

Similarly if you spill salt that is again the devil trying to steal it, which is why you (if you are superstitious)throw salt with your right hand over your left shoulder, "into the devil's eye"

I hate it. It can be extremely patronising. And even when it isn't meant that way, it sounds like it is.

It's ok to use if someone sneezes though.

I hear it a lot in NW England/NE Wales. Is it used elsewhere?

Wow bit harsh!
This must be regional as its used a lot here in a good way as some pps have said. If someone has done a good deed or to sympathise with someone’s situation.
I don’t hear it used any bad way at all. Surely you can get tell that with how its said?

It can be said in a nice way, yes, but I’ve had it said to me in a very sarcastic way before now as if to suggest I don’t know what I’m talking about 😂 Also increasing heard it said in that tone/context to others in recent years.

Nevertheless, even when it’s said with the best intentions I find it a bit babying!

It's just a sympathetic comment. Not sarcastic. Trying to be empathetic to your situation. Don't read too much into it.

It's an expression of appreciation or sympathy. Yes, it can be sarcastic, but then so can anything. "Thank you very much" can be said sarcastically. Sarcasm is in the tone of voice, not in the words themselves.

I've never heard it said in a bad way round here. Often said about a child doing or saying something cute or naive or anyone doing something kind.

Referring to children puppies and kittens, it's expressing cuteness

But more often than not it's gently patronising

“Bless you” when you sneeze dates back to the plague . Sneezing was a symptom and the blessing was to protect you from illness . When somebody says” Aaw Bless” I think they are being a bit patronising .

Round here, I'd say it's more of a conversational filler when you don't know quite what to say - I've rarely heard it said in a sarcastic way, just a sympathetic sort of 'oh you poor thing' when someone tells you something minor but upsetting (lost my glasses, got a bad cold, nearly fell over). An actual vicar said it to me when I was weeding the garden in hot sun last year!