bless you

From Middle English God blesse you, God blisse you.

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bless you!

1. Short for (may) God bless you: said as a short prayer for the recipient.
2. (idiomatic) Said to someone who has just sneezed, as a polite remark.

   Synonym: gesundheit

3. (idiomatic, humorous) 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).
   • 2000 July 8, J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter; 4), London: Bloomsbury Publishing, →ISBN:

     “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.”

• Saying bless you after a sneeze is not considered particularly religious. The remark is used by and toward those who belong to a religion as well as those who do not.