bless up

English

Interjection

bless up

1. (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

• publess

Jamaican Creole

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈblɛs(h)ʌp/

Interjection

bless up

1. 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! […]

2. bye (farewell)

Participle

bless up

1. 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

bless up

1. (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. […]

See also

• big up
• likkle more