Phrases with Blue | Common Idioms and Meanings
The color blue appears in many English phrases, idioms, and expressions. Some phrases use blue to describe a color, while others use it to express emotions, unexpected events, sadness, rarity, or special situations.
What Does “Blue” Mean in English Phrases?
The word blue usually refers to the color, but in idiomatic expressions it can have completely different meanings.
For example:
- Feel blue=feel sad
- Out of the blue=unexpectedly
- Once in a blue moon=very rarely
- Blue-collar worker=a worker in a manual or industrial job
- True blue=completely loyal
- Blue blood=aristocratic or noble family background
- Talk until you’re blue in the face=talk repeatedly without achieving anything
Because the meaning of blue can change according to the phrase, it is important to learn these expressions as complete units.
Common Phrases With Blue
Feel blue
Meaning: To feel sad or unhappy.
“I felt blue after my friend moved away.”
Out of the blue
Meaning: Unexpectedly or without warning.
“She called me out of the blue after several years.”
Once in a blue moon
Meaning: Very rarely.
“We eat at that restaurant once in a blue moon.”
Blue blood
Meaning: A person from an aristocratic or noble family.
“The family was traditionally considered to have blue blood.”
Blue-collar worker
Meaning: A person who performs manual or industrial work.
“His father was a blue-collar worker at a factory.”
White-collar and blue-collar
Meaning: A contrast between office-based and manual occupations.
“The company employs both white-collar and blue-collar workers.”
True blue
Meaning: Completely loyal or faithful.
“She is a true-blue friend who always supports me.”
Blue-eyed boy
Meaning: A person who is especially favored by someone in authority.
“He was considered the manager’s blue-eyed boy.”
Blue-eyed girl
Meaning: A favored or preferred female person.
“She became the director’s blue-eyed girl after her successful project.”
Talk until you’re blue in the face
Meaning: Talk repeatedly without changing a situation or someone’s opinion.
“You can talk until you’re blue in the face, but he will not change his mind.”
Scream blue murder
Meaning: Complain or protest loudly.
“The customer screamed blue murder when the order was delayed.”
Blue in the face
Meaning: Extremely tired or frustrated from talking or arguing.
“I explained the rules until I was blue in the face.”
Blue sky thinking
Meaning: Creative thinking without being restricted by practical limitations.
“The team spent the morning doing some blue-sky thinking.”
Blue-sky idea
Meaning: An imaginative idea that may not have practical limitations.
“The designer presented a blue-sky idea for the new campaign.”
Blue-sky research
Meaning: Research conducted to explore ideas without an immediate practical application.
“The university invests in blue-sky research.”
Bolt from the blue
Meaning: A sudden and completely unexpected event.
“The resignation came like a bolt from the blue.”
A bolt out of the blue
Meaning: Something surprising that happens unexpectedly.
“Losing his job was a bolt out of the blue.”
Blue ribbon
Meaning: A prize or award for first place or excellence.
“Her horse won the blue ribbon at the competition.”
Blue-ribbon panel
Meaning: A group of highly respected people chosen to investigate or advise on an important matter.
“A blue-ribbon panel was formed to study the issue.”
Blue-ribbon committee
Meaning: A committee made up of distinguished or respected members.
“The government established a blue-ribbon committee to review the proposal.”
More Useful Phrases With Blue
Blue Monday
Meaning: A Monday associated with sadness or low spirits.
“I was feeling a little down on Blue Monday.”
Blue mood
Meaning: A sad or unhappy emotional state.
“She was in a blue mood after hearing the news.”
Sing the blues
Meaning: Complain about problems or express sadness.
“He spent the evening singing the blues about his financial problems.”
Have the blues
Meaning: Feel sad or depressed.
“I have the blues today.”
Get the blues
Meaning: Become sad or unhappy.
“She gets the blues whenever winter arrives.”
Baby blues
Meaning: Feelings of sadness that some women experience shortly after giving birth.
“She experienced the baby blues during the first week after delivery.”
Blues music
Meaning: A style of music traditionally associated with African American musical traditions.
“He enjoys listening to blues music.”
Blue note
Meaning: A musical note played or sung at a slightly different pitch to create a characteristic blues sound.
“The guitarist added a blue note to the melody.”
Bluegrass music
Meaning: A style of American roots music.
“The festival featured several bluegrass music bands.”
Blue hour
Meaning: The period of twilight when the sky often appears deep blue.
“Photographers love taking pictures during the blue hour.”
Blue sky
Meaning: Clear sky; also used figuratively for unlimited possibilities.
“We finally had blue skies after several days of rain.”
Blue skies ahead
Meaning: A suggestion that better or easier times are coming.
“After a difficult year, the company hopes there are blue skies ahead.”
Blue-sky opportunity
Meaning: An opportunity involving broad or imaginative possibilities.
“The project offers a blue-sky opportunity for innovation.”
Blue horizon
Meaning: A distant or promising future possibility.
“The new technology opens a blue horizon for the industry.”
Blue-chip
Meaning: A well-established and financially strong company or investment.
“The fund invests mainly in blue-chip companies.”
Blue-chip company
Meaning: A large, established, and financially strong company.
“She accepted a job at a major blue-chip company.”
Blue-chip stock
Meaning: A stock associated with a large, established company.
“He prefers investing in established blue-chip stocks.”
Blue-chip investment
Meaning: An investment in a well-established company or asset.
“The adviser described it as a blue-chip investment.”
Blue economy
Meaning: Economic activity connected with oceans and marine resources.
“The country is developing policies to support the blue economy.”
Blue water
Meaning: Open ocean or deep water; also used in some expressions to suggest distance from land.
“The sailors headed into blue water.”
Blue-water sailing
Meaning: Sailing on open oceans rather than near the coast.
“He has years of experience in blue-water sailing.”
Blue planet
Meaning: Earth, referring to its appearance from space.
“Earth is often called the blue planet.”
Blue moon
Meaning: A phrase commonly used for something rare; astronomically, it can refer to a particular type of full moon.
“Such an opportunity comes around once in a blue moon.”
Blue moon event
Meaning: An event that occurs very rarely.
“A family reunion like this is a blue-moon event for us.”
Blue-sky policy
Meaning: A policy based on broad, imaginative possibilities.
“The committee discussed several blue-sky policy ideas.”
Blue book
Meaning: A book or publication containing official information, statistics, or prices, depending on context.
“The researcher consulted the official blue book.”
Blue-book value
Meaning: An estimated or officially listed value, particularly for vehicles in some markets.
“We checked the car’s blue-book value before buying it.”
Blue pencil
Meaning: To edit, censor, or remove parts of written material.
“The editor blue-penciled several unnecessary paragraphs.”
Blue-pencil a document
Meaning: To edit or remove material from a document.
“The lawyer blue-penciled the draft before sending it.”
Blue law
Meaning: A law restricting certain activities, traditionally on particular days such as Sunday.
“The state once had strict blue laws.”
100 Phrases With Blue
The following table provides 100 phrases containing “blue” along with their meanings.
| # | Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Feel blue | Feel sad |
| 2 | Out of the blue | Unexpectedly |
| 3 | Once in a blue moon | Very rarely |
| 4 | Blue blood | Aristocratic background |
| 5 | Blue-collar worker | Manual or industrial worker |
| 6 | White-collar and blue-collar | Office and manual occupations |
| 7 | True blue | Completely loyal |
| 8 | Blue-eyed boy | Favored person |
| 9 | Blue-eyed girl | Favored female person |
| 10 | Talk until you’re blue in the face | Talk without changing anything |
| 11 | Scream blue murder | Complain loudly |
| 12 | Blue in the face | Exhausted or frustrated from talking |
| 13 | Blue-sky thinking | Imaginative thinking |
| 14 | Blue-sky idea | Imaginative idea |
| 15 | Blue-sky research | Exploratory research |
| 16 | Bolt from the blue | Sudden surprise |
| 17 | Bolt out of the blue | Unexpected event |
| 18 | Blue ribbon | Prize for excellence |
| 19 | Blue-ribbon panel | Distinguished panel |
| 20 | Blue-ribbon committee | Distinguished committee |
| 21 | Blue Monday | Sad Monday |
| 22 | Blue mood | Sad mood |
| 23 | Sing the blues | Express sadness or complain |
| 24 | Have the blues | Feel sad |
| 25 | Get the blues | Become sad |
| 26 | Baby blues | Post-birth sadness |
| 27 | Blues music | Musical genre |
| 28 | Blue note | Characteristic blues note |
| 29 | Bluegrass music | American roots music |
| 30 | Blue hour | Deep-blue twilight period |
| 31 | Blue sky | Clear sky |
| 32 | Blue skies ahead | Better times ahead |
| 33 | Blue-sky opportunity | Broad creative opportunity |
| 34 | Blue horizon | Future possibility |
| 35 | Blue-chip | Strong and established |
| 36 | Blue-chip company | Established company |
| 37 | Blue-chip stock | Established company stock |
| 38 | Blue-chip investment | Established investment |
| 39 | Blue economy | Ocean-related economy |
| 40 | Blue water | Open or deep ocean |
| 41 | Blue-water sailing | Open-ocean sailing |
| 42 | Blue planet | Earth |
| 43 | Blue moon | Rare occurrence/full moon term |
| 44 | Blue moon event | Rare event |
| 45 | Blue-sky policy | Imaginative policy |
| 46 | Blue book | Official reference book |
| 47 | Blue-book value | Listed or estimated value |
| 48 | Blue pencil | Edit or censor |
| 49 | Blue-pencil a document | Edit a document |
| 50 | Blue law | Restrictive traditional law |
| 51 | Blue-collar job | Manual job |
| 52 | Blue-collar worker | Manual worker |
| 53 | Blue-collar family | Family associated with manual work |
| 54 | Blue-collar neighborhood | Working-class neighborhood |
| 55 | Blue-collar town | Industrial or working-class town |
| 56 | Blue-collar crime | Crime associated with ordinary workers |
| 57 | Blue-collar economy | Economy involving manual industries |
| 58 | Blue-collar workforce | Manual workforce |
| 59 | Blue-collar profession | Manual occupation |
| 60 | Blue-collar sector | Manual labor sector |
| 61 | Blue-collar employee | Manual worker |
| 62 | Blue-collar job market | Market for manual jobs |
| 63 | Blue-chip stock | Established stock |
| 64 | Blue-chip firm | Established firm |
| 65 | Blue-chip brand | Strong established brand |
| 66 | Blue-chip company | Financially established company |
| 67 | Blue-chip portfolio | Portfolio containing established investments |
| 68 | Blue-chip investor | Investor associated with established investments |
| 69 | Blue-chip asset | Established valuable asset |
| 70 | Blue-chip dividend | Dividend from an established company |
| 71 | Blue-sky scenario | Highly optimistic possibility |
| 72 | Blue-sky proposal | Imaginative proposal |
| 73 | Blue-sky vision | Broad imaginative vision |
| 74 | Blue-sky strategy | Creative long-term strategy |
| 75 | Blue-sky approach | Unrestricted approach |
| 76 | Blue-concept | Imaginative concept |
| 77 | Blue-sky project | Highly ambitious project |
| 78 | Blue-sky plan | Imaginative plan |
| 79 | Blue-sky solution | Creative solution |
| 80 | Blue-sky innovation | Imaginative innovation |
| 81 | Blue ribbon winner | First-place winner |
| 82 | Blue-ribbon award | Award for excellence |
| 83 | Blue-ribbon report | Report prepared by distinguished experts |
| 84 | Blue-ribbon task force | Distinguished task force |
| 85 | Blue-ribbon commission | Distinguished commission |
| 86 | Blue-ribbon jury | Distinguished jury |
| 87 | Blue-ribbon school | Highly regarded school |
| 88 | Blue-ribbon program | Recognized high-quality program |
| 89 | Blue-ribbon standard | High standard |
| 90 | Blue-ribbon service | Highly regarded service |
| 91 | Blue water navy | Navy capable of operating far from home waters |
| 92 | Blue-water fleet | Ocean-going fleet |
| 93 | Blue-water port | Port serving ocean-going vessels |
| 94 | Blue-water sailor | Sailor experienced in ocean voyages |
| 95 | Blue-water route | Ocean route |
| 96 | Blue-water cruising | Long-distance ocean cruising |
| 97 | Blue-pencil edit | Editorial deletion |
| 98 | Blue-pencil revision | Revision involving deletions or changes |
| 99 | Blue-book guide | Reference guide |
| 100 | Blue-book price | Listed reference price |
Phrases With Blue and Example Sentences
| Phrase | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Feel blue | I feel blue when I am away from my family. |
| Out of the blue | He called me out of the blue. |
| Once in a blue moon | We go hiking once in a blue moon. |
| Blue blood | The novel describes a family with blue blood. |
| Blue-collar worker | His father was a blue-collar worker. |
| True blue | She has always been a true-blue friend. |
| Blue-eyed boy | He became the manager’s blue-eyed boy. |
| Blue-sky thinking | The team used blue-sky thinking to develop new ideas. |
| Bolt from the blue | The announcement was a bolt from the blue. |
| Blue ribbon | She won a blue ribbon for her painting. |
| Blue mood | He was in a blue mood all evening. |
| Sing the blues | He spent the night singing the blues. |
| Blue hour | We took photographs during the blue hour. |
| Blue-chip company | She works for a blue-chip company. |
| Blue-chip stock | The investor bought a blue-chip stock. |
| Blue economy | The government is exploring opportunities in the blue economy. |
| Blue pencil | The editor blue-penciled several sections. |
| Blue law | The state once enforced strict blue laws. |
| Blue book | The researcher consulted the official blue book. |
| Blue-sky proposal | The committee considered a blue-sky proposal. |
Quick Challenge #1: Choose the Correct Phrase
Choose the phrase that best completes each sentence.
He called me completely unexpectedly, ______.
We visit that place ______.
She was feeling ______ after receiving the bad news.
The resignation came like a ______.
The company encouraged ______ thinking during the planning session.
- B — out of the blue
- A — once in a blue moon
- A — blue
- B — bolt from the blue
- A — blue-sky
Blue Phrases for Describing Feelings
The color blue is frequently connected with sadness in English.
Feel blue
“I feel blue whenever I think about the past.”
Have the blues
“She has the blues today.”
Get the blues
“He tends to get the blues during the winter.”
Blue mood
“She was in a blue mood yesterday.”
Sing the blues
“He spent the evening singing the blues about his problems.”
These expressions are generally informal and should be understood according to context.
Blue Phrases for Business and Professional English
The word blue also appears frequently in business and professional vocabulary.
Blue-chip company
A blue-chip company is an established and financially strong company.
“He joined a blue-chip company after graduation.”
Blue-chip stock
A blue-chip stock generally refers to stock associated with a large, established company.
“The portfolio contains several blue-chip stocks.”
Blue-sky thinking
This expression refers to imaginative thinking that is not initially restricted by practical limitations.
“The meeting encouraged blue-sky thinking.”
Blue-collar worker
A blue-collar worker traditionally refers to someone working in manual, industrial, or skilled-trade employment.
“The factory employs hundreds of blue-collar workers.”
Blue-ribbon committee
A blue-ribbon committee is a group of respected or distinguished people assembled for an important task.
“A blue-ribbon committee was created to examine the issue.”
Quick Challenge #2: Match the Phrase With Its Meaning
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1. Out of the blue | A. Completely loyal |
| 2. True blue | B. Unexpectedly |
| 3. Blue-collar | C. Manual or industrial work |
| 4. Blue-chip | D. Established and financially strong |
| 5. Blue-sky thinking | E. Imaginative thinking |
- B — Unexpectedly
- A — Completely loyal
- C — Manual or industrial work
- D — Established and financially strong
- E — Imaginative thinking
Blue Idioms in Everyday Conversation
Some blue expressions are especially useful in casual conversation.
“What’s got you feeling blue?”
This means “Why are you feeling sad?”
“You seem quiet today. What’s got you feeling blue?”
“Out of the blue”
This is one of the most useful expressions for describing something unexpected.
“My old school friend contacted me out of the blue.”
“Once in a blue moon”
Use this when something happens very rarely.
“I eat fast food once in a blue moon.”
“True blue”
Use this to describe someone who is extremely loyal.
“You are a true-blue friend.”
“Blue in the face”
This expression describes repeated talking or arguing without producing a result.
“I can explain it until I’m blue in the face, but he still won’t listen.”
“Scream blue murder”
This means to complain or protest very loudly.
“The child screamed blue murder when his toy was taken away.”
Phrases With Blue for Describing People
The word blue appears in several expressions used to describe people’s personality, loyalty, social background, or position.
True Blue
Meaning: Completely loyal or faithful.
Ali is a true-blue friend who always supports me.
Blue-Eyed Boy
Meaning: A person who is especially favored by someone in authority.
The new employee quickly became the manager’s blue-eyed boy.
Blue-Collar Worker
Meaning: A person who performs manual, industrial, or skilled-trade work.
His father worked as a blue-collar worker in a manufacturing company.
Blue Blood
Meaning: A person from a traditionally aristocratic or noble family.
The novel tells the story of a family with blue blood.
Blue-Collar Family
Meaning: A family associated with manual or industrial employment.
She grew up in a blue-collar family.
Blue-Collar Workforce
Meaning: Workers employed mainly in manual, industrial, or skilled-trade occupations.
The factory depends heavily on its blue-collar workforce.
Phrases With Blue for Business and Professional English
Many expressions containing blue are useful in business, finance, management, and professional communication.
Blue-Chip Company
Meaning: A large, established, and financially strong company.
He accepted a position at a well-known blue-chip company.
Blue-Chip Stock
Meaning: Stock associated with a large and established company.
The investor added several blue-chip stocks to the portfolio.
Blue-Sky Thinking
Meaning: Creative thinking that is not initially restricted by practical limitations.
The manager encouraged blue-sky thinking during the brainstorming session.
Blue-Sky Idea
Meaning: A highly imaginative or ambitious idea.
Her blue-sky idea could completely change the way the product is marketed.
Blue-Ribbon Committee
Meaning: A committee consisting of respected or distinguished people.
A blue-ribbon committee was appointed to examine the issue.
Blue-Ribbon Panel
Meaning: A group of recognized experts or distinguished individuals assembled for an important task.
The organization created a blue-ribbon panel to review the proposal.
Phrases With Blue Related to Sadness and Emotions
In English, blue is frequently associated with sadness or a low emotional state.
Feel Blue
Meaning: To feel sad or unhappy.
I feel blue whenever I remember my old friends.
Have the Blues
Meaning: To feel sad or unhappy.
She has the blues because her vacation is over.
Get the Blues
Meaning: To become sad.
He tends to get the blues during long periods away from home.
Blue Mood
Meaning: A state of sadness or low spirits.
She was in a blue mood after hearing the disappointing news.
Sing the Blues
Meaning: To complain about problems or express sadness.
He spent the whole evening singing the blues about his financial difficulties.
Blue Monday
Meaning: A Monday associated with feelings of sadness or low energy.
Many people find Monday morning difficult and refer to it as a blue Monday.
Phrases With Blue for Unexpected Events
Some of the most useful blue expressions describe events that happen suddenly or unexpectedly.
Out of the Blue
Meaning: Suddenly and unexpectedly.
My old school friend contacted me out of the blue.
Bolt From the Blue
Meaning: A sudden and completely unexpected event.
The announcement came as a bolt from the blue.
A Bolt Out of the Blue
Meaning: Something that happens without warning and causes surprise.
His resignation was a bolt out of the blue for everyone in the office.
These expressions are particularly useful when describing surprising news, unexpected phone calls, sudden changes, or unforeseen events.
Phrases With Blue for Rare Events
The word blue is also used to describe things that happen very rarely.
Once in a Blue Moon
Meaning: Very rarely.
We go to the cinema once in a blue moon.
Blue-Moon Event
Meaning: An event that happens extremely rarely.
A meeting involving all the former employees is a blue-moon event.
Once in a Blue Moon Opportunity
Meaning: An opportunity that occurs very rarely.
Getting a chance to meet the author was a once-in-a-blue-moon opportunity.
These expressions are useful when you want to emphasize that something does not happen often.
Quick Challenge #3: Complete the Sentences
Use a suitable phrase containing blue.
- 1. My old friend suddenly called me ______.
- 2. I only visit that city ______.
- 3. She felt ______ after failing the examination.
- 4. The news was a complete ______.
- 5. He is a ______ friend who has supported me for years.
- out of the blue
- once in a blue moon
- blue / felt blue
- bolt from the blue
- true-blue
Practice Exercises: Phrases With Blue
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Complete each sentence with the correct phrase.
- 1. He contacted me ______ after ten years.
- 2. We eat at that restaurant ______.
- 3. She was feeling ______ after the argument.
- 4. The announcement came like a ______.
- 5. He is a ______ friend who always helps me.
- 6. The company employs many ______ workers.
- 7. The students were encouraged to use ______ thinking.
- 8. She won a ______ at the competition.
- 9. He was in a ______ after hearing the news.
- 10. The editor ______ several unnecessary sentences.
- out of the blue
- once in a blue moon
- blue / felt blue
- bolt from the blue
- true-blue
- blue-collar
- blue-sky
- blue ribbon
- blue mood
- blue-penciled
Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Answer
“Once in a blue moon” means:
“Out of the blue” means:
“True blue” describes someone who is:
“Blue-sky thinking” means:
A “blue-collar worker” traditionally performs:
“Blue in the face” can describe someone who has:
“Blue-chip” commonly describes:
“Blue pencil” can mean:
“Blue ribbon” can refer to:
“Feel blue” means:
- B — Very rarely
- A — Unexpectedly
- B — Loyal
- A — Creative and unrestricted thinking
- A — Mainly manual or industrial work
- A — Repeatedly talked or argued without success
- A — An established and financially strong company or investment
- A — Edit or censor written material
- A — A prize for excellence
- B — Feel sad
Exercise 3: Rewrite the Sentences
Replace the words in bold with an appropriate phrase containing blue.
- 1. He called me unexpectedly.
- 2. We rarely visit our old hometown.
- 3. She was sad after the news.
- 4. He is completely loyal to his team.
- 5. The event was completely unexpected.
- 6. The company employs many manual workers.
- 7. The team used creative and unrestricted thinking.
- 8. She won the first-place prize.
- 9. The editor removed several parts of the article.
- 10. He complained loudly about the service.
- He called me out of the blue.
- We visit our old hometown once in a blue moon.
- She felt blue after the news.
- He is true blue to his team.
- The event was a bolt from the blue.
- The company employs many blue-collar workers.
- The team used blue-sky thinking.
- She won the blue ribbon.
- The editor blue-penciled several parts of the article.
- He screamed blue murder about the service.
Frequently Asked Questions About Phrases With Blue
What are phrases with “blue”?
Phrases with blue are idioms, expressions, compounds, and fixed combinations that contain the word blue. Their meanings can be literal or figurative.
What does “out of the blue” mean?
Out of the blue means unexpectedly or without warning.
“She called me out of the blue.”
What does “once in a blue moon” mean?
It means very rarely.
“I eat at that restaurant once in a blue moon.”
What does “feel blue” mean?
Feel blue means to feel sad or unhappy.
“He felt blue after his friend left.”
What does “true blue” mean?
True blue means completely loyal or faithful.
“She is a true-blue friend.”
What does “blue-collar” mean?
Blue-collar traditionally describes manual, industrial, or skilled-trade work and the people who perform it.
“He comes from a blue-collar family.”
What does “blue-chip” mean?
Blue-chip commonly describes an established and financially strong company, stock, or investment.
“The fund invests in blue-chip companies.”
What does “blue-sky thinking” mean?
Blue-sky thinking means imaginative or unrestricted thinking, particularly when generating new ideas.
“The workshop encouraged blue-sky thinking.”
What does “blue in the face” mean?
It means talking, arguing, or trying to persuade someone repeatedly without achieving the desired result.
“You can explain it until you’re blue in the face, but he won’t agree.”
Is “blue” always related to sadness?
No. Although blue is often associated with sadness in English idioms, it can also express loyalty, rarity, surprise, excellence, creativity, business strength, or a literal color, depending on the expression.
