blue
A1Neutral
Definition
Meaning
The colour of a clear sky or the sea on a sunny day.
A feeling of sadness or melancholy; sexually explicit or profane material; a political colour (conservative or liberal).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primary colour term; polysemous; can describe mood, politics, or content; often symbolises sadness, stability, or loyalty.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor spelling in compounds ('blueish' vs. 'bluish'). 'Blue' as political colour is reversed: in UK, blue is Conservative; in US, blue is Democratic.
Connotations
Similar connotations of sadness in both dialects. 'Blue' for explicit material is common in both.
Frequency
Very high-frequency core colour term in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to be + blueto turn/go blueto feel blueblue + nounVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “out of the blue”
- “once in a blue moon”
- “blue in the face”
- “blue blood”
- “blue-collar worker”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
'Blue chip' (reliable, high-value).
Academic
Used in colour theory, optics, and psychology (e.g., 'blue light').
Everyday
Describing colour, mood ('I'm feeling blue'), weather ('blue sky').
Technical
In chemistry (blue litmus), IT ('blue screen error').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The company blued a fortune on the failed project.
- She blued her money at the races.
American English
- He blued his paycheck on a new guitar.
- They blued their savings on a lavish party.
adverb
British English
- The light shone blue through the stained glass.
American English
- The sky was painted blue in the artist's depiction.
adjective
British English
- She wore a lovely blue dress.
- He was feeling a bit blue after the news.
American English
- He drives a blue truck.
- She felt blue during the rainy season.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The sky is blue.
- I have a blue pen.
- My favourite colour is blue.
- She felt blue when her friend moved away.
- He painted his room a light blue.
- The blue sea looked beautiful.
- The news came completely out of the blue.
- He worked as a blue-collar mechanic.
- She wore a navy blue suit to the interview.
- The comedian's material was decidedly blue, shocking some of the audience.
- The political map showed several blue states.
- He argued until he was blue in the face, but she wouldn't change her mind.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Big Little Umbrella Everyday = Blue.
Conceptual Metaphor
SADNESS IS BLUE; DEPTH / STABILITY IS BLUE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Don't confuse 'blue' (синий, голубой) with 'pale' or 'light'. Avoid direct translation of 'голубой' for 'light blue' as it has other connotations in Russian. 'Синий чулок' is not 'blue stocking' (bluestocking) but an old-fashioned term for a studious woman.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'blue' for 'purple' or 'violet'. Confusing 'blue' (colour) with 'blow' (verb).
Practice
Quiz
What does 'once in a blue moon' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the sad connotation ('feeling blue') is only one meaning. It also symbolises calm, trust, and stability.
Yes, though less common. As a verb, it means to spend money extravagantly or wastefully (UK) or to make something blue (US).
Navy blue is a very dark, almost blackish blue. Royal blue is a bright, deep, vivid blue.
It refers to aristocratic or noble descent, originating from the visible veins of fair-skinned nobility.
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