Blue Idioms

Blue Idioms and Ways of Using the Word Blue

Hello, dear English learners! Today we’re exploring 12 colourful idioms and different uses of the word blue. This little word carries far more meaning than just the sky above us — it can express emotions, social class, surprise and even how you want your steak cooked!

Let’s dive in.

Meanings of the Word Blue

The colour blue

Most obviously, blue is the colour of a bright, clear sky.

• There wasn’t a single cloud in the clear blue sky.

Feeling sad or low

In English, blue can also express sadness or melancholy.

• This song always makes me feel blue.

A way to order steak

If you want your steak extremely rare, you can simply ask for it blue.

• “How would you like your steak?” — “Blue, please.”

Vulgar or rude humour

We use blue to describe something that is inappropriate, crude, or obscene.

• Mark is a kind and polite bloke, but he likes telling blue jokes.

The English teachers at My Lingua Academy are always here to help you grow your vocabulary. Let’s continue with some brilliant idioms!

Idioms with Blue

Between the devil and the deep blue sea

If you are between the devil and the deep blue sea, you must choose between two unpleasant options — not a cheerful spot to be in!

• My two friends had a serious argument and weren’t speaking. I felt caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.
• George didn’t know whether to visit his parents or his in-laws on New Year’s Day — truly between the devil and the deep blue sea.

Black and blue

If someone is black and blue, they’re bruised all over.

• The boy punched him until he was black and blue.
• My arm was black and blue after the pickpocket hit me and grabbed my wallet.

Blue blood

A blue blood is someone from a noble or aristocratic family.

• Some blue-blood children attended this school.
• The prince refuses to marry a girl without blue blood.

Blue-collar

Blue-collar workers do manual or physical jobs, such as plumbers, drivers, or mechanics — the opposite of white-collar office workers.

• The party’s support traditionally came from blue-collar workers.
• My dad worked as a blue-collar worker all his life.

Blue-eyed boy

A blue-eyed boy is a young man who is especially favoured or treated better than others.

• Brian has always been the blue-eyed boy of the school.
• Robert is clearly the manager’s blue-eyed boy.

Blue in the face

If you try and try but achieve nothing, you can shout or complain until you’re blue in the face.

• You can remind him until you’re blue in the face — he still won’t come to class.
• Maria called Bob until she was blue in the face, but he never answered.

Blue ribbon

A blue ribbon is the top prize in a competition.

• Henry’s potato won the blue ribbon at the village fair — again!
• David proudly wore a blue ribbon for “Best Hairdresser.”

Blues and twos

This British expression refers to police cars with blue flashing lights and a siren.

• While we waited at the lights, a police car came rushing past with blues and twos.

Once in a blue moon

Something that happens once in a blue moon happens extremely rarely.

• My brother helped me with homework once in a blue moon.
• You get opportunities like this once in a blue moon — grab it!

Out of the blue

When something happens unexpectedly, it comes out of the blue.

• No one expected Peter’s resignation — it came out of the blue.
• Out of the blue, Paul asked Fiona to marry him.

Talk a blue streak

Someone who talks a blue streak speaks extremely quickly without stopping.

• The woman at the market talked a blue streak — everyone stopped to listen.
• The snake in the film rose up and talked a blue streak.

True blue

A true blue person is loyal, faithful, and dependable.

• You can always rely on Stuart — he’s true blue.
• At home, Sandra was a true blue mother and wife.

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