Idiom Breakdown

bless you

//ˈblɛs juː/ / /ˈblɛʃ(j)uː//

HUMOROUS

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Definition

Said to someone who has just sneezed, as a polite remark.

Used to express non-understanding of someone who has just used an unusual or foreign word or phrase (as if to imply that it sounds like a sneeze).

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Short for God bless you, from Middle English God blesse you, God blisse you.

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"‘What’s that?’ said Ron, pointing at a large dish of some sort of shellfish stew that stood beside a large steak-and-kidney pudding. ‘Bouillabaisse,’ said Hermione. ‘Bless you,’ said Ron. ‘It’s French,’ said Hermione. ‘I had it on holiday, summer before last, it’s very nice.’"

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