3 Southern Sayings Even Scarier Than "Bless Her Heart"

God love you, we hope they're never aimed at you.

It's true that Southerners can add "bless her heart" to the most negative remark imaginable and make it sound genteel, even kind and sympathetic, as backhanded compliments go: "She couldn't bake a decent pecan pie if her life depended on it, bless her heart."

But sometimes, we're actually sincere when we bless the heart of another. For example, this Southern saying can also be a genuine expression of sympathy: "My sweet Sissy fell off her bike and skinned her knee, bless her heart."

Or we might use it to show gratitude: "Oh, honey, you mowed the lawn for my party, bless your heart!"

The sincerity or sarcasm of "bless your heart" is determined by the circumstances and revealed through facial expression and vocal inflection. It's not for amateurs. It requires skill.

We have other Southern sayings, however, that are far less nuanced. They are always negative, always zingers. Here are three of the biggies:

God love 'em.

Tack this onto absolutely anything, and it sounds kind and loving. The implication is that we can call on the Almighty to love someone, despite the many errors of their ways:

She's dumb as a post, God love her.

He made his casserole with canned sweet potatoes, God love him.

They're wearing white shoes after Labor Day, God love 'em.

In their own way.

This one merits some dissection. You might hear it from pageant girls who want to demonstrate their ability to accept those who never quite mastered a cat eye and don't own a teasing comb: "Say what you want, but I think she's pretty . . . in her own way."

We might also use it to describe someone's intellect: "Nobody's ever gonna think they're college material, bless their hearts, but they're smart . . . in their own way."

Look what they like.

Ouch. This is a direct assault on someone's taste. Let's say a bridal shower host shows up in a leather mini and a shoulder-padded blazer straight out of the 80s: Look what she likes. Or maybe they're burying Papaw in an SEC-themed casket. Look what they like. Or they have "It's Not Love But It's Not Bad" sung at their wedding. Look what they like.

We hope these barbed Southern sayings never get hurled at you (bless your heart). But if they do (God love you), just remember—you're special in your own way. Keep your eyes peeled for a "Look what she likes" opportunity and create a diversion.

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