1 C1 idiomatic informal
To scold or reprimand someone very harshly (chiefly Southern American English).
"Grandma blessed him out good when she found out he'd lied about where he was going."
separable
bless out
C1 informal separable transitive
To scold or reprimand someone severely; a regional American expression, chiefly Southern U.S.
In plain English
To yell at someone or tell them off very angrily — used mainly in the southern United States.
What does "bless out" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Usage tip
Distinctly Southern American English dialect. The contrast between 'bless' (positive) and the harsh meaning (to scold) is an example of regional euphemistic inversion — likely arising from expressions like 'bless your heart' used ironically. Not widely understood outside the American South. Learners should recognise it but use 'tell off' or 'chew out' in most contexts.
Words that pair with "bless out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
coach parent boss teacher publicly thoroughly
How to conjugate "bless out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
bless out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
blesses out
he/she/it
Past simple
blessed out
yesterday
Past participle
blessed out
have + pp
-ing form
blessing out
continuous
Hear "bless out" in the wild
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