Etymology Journal ยท W
Well, bless my soul
Meaning
- An exclamation of mild surprise or disbelief. It is a cleaner way to express shock without resorting to profanity.
Gentle, nostalgic
Used in a sentence
- Well, bless my soul, look who decided to show up on time.
- Well, bless my soul, I forgot I even owned this old photo.
- Well, bless my soul, that is the biggest squash I have ever seen.
The backstory
This is an old fashioned exclamation rooted in religious habit. It acts as a polite alternative to more explosive religious oaths.
Heard in
The South
Vibe check