thoughts and prayers

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

(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:
  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:
  Another meme shows an empty van. “Excellent news,” it reads. “The first truckload of your thoughts and prayers has just arrived.”

English