What does bless you mean in England?

bless you! in British English

(interjection) a. a traditional phrase said to a person who has just sneezed. b. an exclamation of well-wishing or surprise.

What does it mean when a British person says Bless you?

Saying “bless you” was believed to help keep it in you. Alternatively a sneeze was the body's way of expelling a demon and saying that phrase would shield you from the evil. Whatever the origin, nowadays it is polite to say “bless you” when someone sneezes, just like saying “thank you” or “please”.

What does Bless you mean in English?

1 —used in speech to express thanks or good wishes "I'll be happy to help in any way I can." "Oh, bless you!

Why shouldn't you say Bless you?

Please stop acknowledging my bodily functions. "Bless you" is a phrase so reflexively spoken upon hearing a sneeze that many of us forgot or don't even know where it came from. It has obvious religious connotations but they're archaic and no longer make any sense in our modern-day world.

What does bless up mean in England?

all right, okay, great (all right) quotations ▼

Learn English Culture: The Meaning Of Bless You

Why do we say bless you?

The most popular theory is that it originated in Rome when the bubonic plague was ravaging Europe. Sneezing was one the plague's main symptoms, and it is believed that Pope Gregory I suggested that a tiny prayer in the form of saying, "God bless you" after a sneeze would protect the person from death.

What does bless up mean slang?

Your Definitive Guide to What "Bless Up" Actually Means

DJ Khaled started the trend, and "bless up" has two primary meanings: it's supposed to be a greeting that sends some good vibes, but most people use it as a way of expressing how grateful they are for their lives — kind of like #blessed.

Is saying bless you rude?

“Saying 'God bless you' following a sneeze is a common refrain, so common and taught from childhood that many people don't even think of it as a blessing, but rather as an utterance without specific meaning other than a response to a sneeze that is polite in some way,” said Dr.

Is it politically correct to say bless you?

So, the next time you see or hear someone sneeze, whether from behind a mask in your local supermarket or face to face with your family and loved ones, don't worry about being politically correct, or politically incorrect, or offending someone's faith or secular convictions. Simply say, Bless you.

Is it inappropriate to say bless you?

You have to be really picky to be offended by someone saying “bless you” after a sneeze. It's a polite social convention — not you literally bestowing them with a blessing from God. For most people, it's a reflex and one based in good intent.

Is saying bless you universal?

We've all grown up with the expectation that when someone sneezes it is only polite to say 'bless you'. It's a fairly universal reaction that has become almost automatic for most people. When you are traveling in other countries, however, you may not know what to say when someone sneezes around you.

What to say instead of bless you?

"Well-being!", "Health!" "Relief!", or "God give you relief!" "Elation!", or "Thrill!" "God have mercy on you" if the sneezer says "All praise is for God."

Do UK people say bless you?

God bless you

This is what a Brit might say to you after you sneeze. They might even pass you a hankie too, if you're lucky. Not to be confused with: 'Count your blessings', meaning that you should be grateful for what you have.

Why do people say aww bless you?

It's a sort of Ital/English phrase meaning "what a shame". Some people feel that they must utter words while you speak instead of just shutting up and listening. Maybe that's how the "aww bless" is being used. ??? Idunno.

Why don't you say bless you when you cough?

In English it is polite to say "bless you" when someone sneezes. If someone coughs then people do not tend to say anything. I hope that this helps!

Is saying bless you a southern thing?

In the South, 'bless your heart' situations arise all day, every day. Walk around long enough, and you'll hear 'bless your/their/his/her heart' spoken either vehemently aloud or in a breathless whisper. It's a versatile phrase indeed.

Why should you not say bless you when someone sneezes?

The act of blessing a person subsequent to a sneeze was meant to act as a safeguard against the devil's evil influences returning. However, if the sneezer should thank the blesser for the blessing it was thought to invite the devil with all his evil influences to re-enter the body.

What does the saying Bless your heart mean?

"Bless your heart" is a phrase that is common in the Southern United States. The phrase has multiple meanings. It may be used to express genuine sympathy or as a precursor to an insult to soften the blow.

What does Wah Gwaan mean?

'Wah Gwaan'

It's a casual greeting which means “What's up?” or “How are you?”

What big ups means?

Big-ups (sometimes unhyphenated, sometimes singular) is an idiom that entered American English and, less conspicuously, British English around 1990. It has several meanings, but in the U.S. and Britain, where it started in hip-hop culture, it's mainly used to acknowledge someone or to express respect or approval.

Does everyone say bless you?

Given how common sneezing is, scientists actually know very little about the phenomenon. What we do know is that nearly every sneeze in the US is answered with a "bless you."

Is bless a religious term?

Definition of bless

1 religion : to hallow or consecrate by religious rite or word asked the priest to bless their marriage Bless this home. 2 religion : to hallow with the sign of the cross He blessed himself before liftoff.

How do you say God bless you in English?

God bless (you)!

said when saying goodbye to someone, to say that you hope good things will happen to them : Good night everyone, and God bless. said when someone sneezes, to say that you hope they have good health: "Achoo!" "God bless you."