Idioms containing BLUE
TOP words in categories
BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA
facing two difficult outcomes for the same situation
1. I consider both Paul and Mitch to be friends of mine. Now they are mad at each other and each wants me to take his side against the other. No matter what I do I could lose one friend or both. I’m between the devil and the deep blue sea.
2. Dana’s really between the devil and the deep blue sea. The boss wants her to lie about the financial state of the company. If she does, it would be unethical, but if she doesn’t, the boss might find a way to fire her.
2. Dana’s really between the devil and the deep blue sea. The boss wants her to lie about the financial state of the company. If she does, it would be unethical, but if she doesn’t, the boss might find a way to fire her.
BLACK AND BLUE
discolored from a bruise; injured in a fight either physically or verbally
1. The girl fell out of the tree but didn’t break any bones. She just had a black and blue knee.
2. James came out of the meeting black and blue, since he had made so many mistakes preparing the report without consulting his boss.
2. James came out of the meeting black and blue, since he had made so many mistakes preparing the report without consulting his boss.
BLUE IN THE FACE
wasting your efforts because you will get no results
1. You can tell her to clean her room until you are blue in the face, but she won't do it.
2. Even though he was blue in the face, he continued to advocate for change.
2. Even though he was blue in the face, he continued to advocate for change.
BLUE LAW
a law which regulates personal behavior such as going to certain movies, dancing, or gambling
1. In the United States in 1920, a blue law was passed prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages. It was later repealed.
2. Some cities have blue laws that limit or prohibit such activities as dancing and gambling.
2. Some cities have blue laws that limit or prohibit such activities as dancing and gambling.
BLUE RIBBON
renowned (1); first prize (2)
1. The president assembled a blue ribbon panel of experts to study the problem.
2. Sally’s science project won the blue ribbon because it was the best in the contest.
2. Sally’s science project won the blue ribbon because it was the best in the contest.
BLUE-BLOOD
a person (or animal) that is an aristocrat or from a noble family
1. The young man’s parents did not want him to marry the woman he had chosen because they considered themselves blue-bloods and thought their son was too good for her.
2. The racehorses raised on my father’s horse farm are blue-bloods— they come from a long line of Kentucky Derby winners.
2. The racehorses raised on my father’s horse farm are blue-bloods— they come from a long line of Kentucky Derby winners.
BLUE-COLLAR WORKER
a person who earns a living doing manual labor, or generally uses his or her body rather than his or her mind to earn a living
1. Sam works on an assembly line mass-producing clock radios. He’s a blue-collar worker.
2. People who work in factories doing heavy labor are usually blue-collar workers.
2. People who work in factories doing heavy labor are usually blue-collar workers.
BLUE-SKY THINKING
an activity of trying to find completely new ideas
1. Some consultants are good at blue-sky thinking but cannot translate that into practical change.
2. The 350 hand-picked delegates can expect big ideas and blue-sky thinking.
2. The 350 hand-picked delegates can expect big ideas and blue-sky thinking.
ONCE IN A BLUE MOON
very rarely
1. Jean’s parents encouraged her to accept the job with the prestigious company in New York. They told her that a job offer like that comes along only once in a blue moon.
2. Roger and Sandy like to stay at home. They rarely travel and they almost never go out to dinner, though they go to the movies once in a blue moon.
2. Roger and Sandy like to stay at home. They rarely travel and they almost never go out to dinner, though they go to the movies once in a blue moon.
OUT OF A CLEAR BLUE SKY
without warning
1. Erica didn’t expect James to propose marriage so quickly. For her, the proposal came out of a clear blue sky.
2. Spencer hadn’t sent his resume out, so when somebody called him for a job interview, the offer came out of a clear blue sky.
2. Spencer hadn’t sent his resume out, so when somebody called him for a job interview, the offer came out of a clear blue sky.
OUT OF THE BLUE
suddenly and unexpectedly
1. We were walking down the street when from out of the blue an old classmate we hadn’t seen for years appeared.
2. Pam was driving down the highway when, out of the blue, a truck crossed in front of her and she had to slam on her brakes.
2. Pam was driving down the highway when, out of the blue, a truck crossed in front of her and she had to slam on her brakes.
TALK A BLUE STREAK
to talk fast and at length
1. No one liked sitting at the lunch table with Phil because he had only one topic of conversation: his sports car. When it came to his car, Phil could talk a blue streak.
2. You can hardly get a word into a conversation with Wendy, the way she talks a blue streak.
2. You can hardly get a word into a conversation with Wendy, the way she talks a blue streak.
TRUE BLUE
loyal and steadfast
1. I trust Marie completely. No one is more loyal than she is. She’s true blue.
2. Silvia would change her allegiance without a second thought. She doesn’t know the meaning of true blue.
2. Silvia would change her allegiance without a second thought. She doesn’t know the meaning of true blue.
| Go Back |