thoughts and prayers

English

Etymology

Shortened from phrases such as the victims will be in our thoughts and prayers.

Phrase

thoughts and prayers

  1. (US) Used by officials and celebrities as a condolence after a tragic event.
    • 2007 August 28, Ben Ratliff, “Headliner Can’t Make It? Here’s a First-Class Fill-In”, in New York Times‎[1]:
      One, “Thoughts and Prayers,” was for the drummer Jo Jones; it included a sermonette for the high-hat cymbal. Mr. Hamilton dedicated another, “Just Play the Melody,” to Mr. Roach.
    • 2018 February 20, AJ Willimgham, “How ‘thoughts and prayers’ went from common condolence to cynical meme”, in CNN‎[2]:
      Another meme shows an empty van. “Excellent news,” it reads. “The first truckload of your thoughts and prayers has just arrived.”

Further reading

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