Everyone who knows me is aware that I grew up in the South, and anyone who is “Southern” uses a lot of expressions. It is such a part of our speech that we are not always aware we are using expressions.
A few days ago, I was texting with a friend (who is not Southern), and I responded to what she said with “Bless your heart.” It is one of my expressions. I never thought of it as anything negative.
She responded to me that “bless your heart” has a double meaning, and I was shocked by that.