bless up
English edit
Interjection edit
- (Jamaica, informal) A greeting or farewell.
- 2018, Alexia Arthurs, How to Love a Jamaican: Stories:
- If you're not Jamaican, what you have here is a special opportunity to see who we actually are: we're not at all like you, but absolutely the same. Mostly, Arthurs has written a love letter to Jamaicans, and it feels so good. Yes, iyah. Bless up.
- 2018, Racquel Williams, Carl Weber's Kingpins: Jamaica:
- “Yo, what's up, niggas?” I said as I approached. “Yo, Father, bless up,” Gio said.
Anagrams edit
Jamaican Creole edit
Pronunciation edit
Interjection edit
- hi, hey (greeting)
- 2011, Richard Bingy Brown, Living the Dream, →ISBN, page 18:
- “Yow Marshall, bless up mi kuzz I will reason wid yu later. Junior, deh yah now.' Junior: Bless up mi kuzz, nuff blessings fi de new year. […] ”
- Yo, Marshall. Hey, cuz! You and I'll talk later. Junior's here right now. Junior: Hey cuz! Happy new year! […]
- bye (farewell)
Participle edit
- all right, okay, great (all right)
- Everything bless up? ― Is everything okay?
- 2017, Daviot Kelly, “Kelly's World: Santa, mi have an excuse!”, in The Jamaica Gleaner[1]:
- “Yow, Santa, what a gwaan? Everything bless up? How Rudolph and di reindeer dem? Hear say Blitzen hoof did a gi him likkle trouble, him good now? […] ”
- Yo, Santa, wazzup? Everything okay? How are Rudolph and the reindeer? I heard Blitzen was having a little trouble with his hoof [/hooves]. Is he okay now? […]
Verb edit
- (imperative) To be thought of as praiseworthy by someone else ; to have someone's respect. (display of affection or praise)
- Bless up yuself and enjoy your retirement, Mama P.
- Mama P, I respect you; enjoy your retirement.
- 2018, Ragashanti, “Big money scam”, in The Jamaica Star[2]:
- “Big up who fi big up and bless up who fi bless up. Di usual spec to all Ragashanti Live listeners. […] ”
- Respect to those who deserve respect. Praise to those who deserve praise. As always, listeners of Ragashanti Live, I respect you. […]