Understanding The Blue Origin Of Everyday Phrases
Have you ever stopped to think about why we say someone is feeling blue when they are sad, or where the idea of a "blue movie" comes from? It's really quite interesting how language picks up these little bits of history. These expressions, you know, have roots that go back a long way, often to unexpected places and times.
Many of the ways we use the word "blue" in our everyday talk, like saying someone is "off color" or that they "scream blue murder," have surprising beginnings. These are not just random pairings of words; rather, they are bits of history, often from old customs or even from the way certain things were done in business a long time ago. It's like finding little clues about how people lived and spoke in the past, which is pretty cool when you think about it.
So, we are going to look into some of these curious connections between the color blue and various sayings. We will explore how phrases like "working blue" or "talking a blue streak" got their start, and what they really meant way back when. It’s a way to get a better sense of how our language came to be what it is today, and how these older meanings stick around, even if we do not always realize it.
Table of Contents
The Blue Origin of Sadness - Why We Feel Blue
What is the Blue Origin of "Blue Movie"?
The Blue Origin of "Blue Sky" and Business Talk
How Did "Talk a Blue Streak" Get Its Blue Origin?
The Blue Origin of "Working Blue" in Entertainment
Is There a Blue Origin for "Blue Air" and Cursing?
What is the Blue Origin of "Scream Blue Murder"?
The Blue Origin of "Off Color" Remarks
The Blue Origin of Sadness - Why We Feel Blue
When someone says they are feeling blue, it means they are feeling down or a bit sad, is that right? This particular way of putting things, so, it actually has a rather old connection to life at sea. It comes from a custom that was quite common among sailors on big, old deepwater ships a long time ago. It’s a bit of a somber tale, in a way, but it explains this familiar saying.
If one of these large sailing vessels, you know, happened to lose its captain while out at sea, or if any other officer passed away during a voyage, there was a specific practice they would follow. The ship would fly a blue flag. This flag, too, was a sign of mourning. It was a visible signal to others that something sad had happened on board. This practice was a way for the ship to show its sorrow, more or less, to anyone who might see it.
And so, because the ship itself would be flying this blue flag to show its sadness, the idea of "being blue" became linked with feeling sad. It’s almost like the ship was feeling blue, in a manner of speaking, because of the loss it had experienced. This connection, you see, between the color blue and a feeling of sorrow, passed from the custom of these old ships into common speech. It is a rather old origin for a phrase we still use today, typically, without even thinking about where it came from.
It’s interesting how a very specific maritime tradition, so, could influence our everyday language in such a lasting way. The blue flag, a signal of a ship’s deep sorrow, somehow became a way for people to describe their own personal feelings of unhappiness. This is one of those instances where the language we use, you know, holds a little piece of history within it, connecting us back to the experiences of people from long ago. It’s a pretty simple explanation for a common phrase, but it really makes you think about how words get their meanings.
What is the Blue Origin of "Blue Movie"?
When people talk about a "blue movie," they are referring to a type of film that shows things of an adult nature, you know, often considered inappropriate for general viewing. The use of "blue" in this context is quite old, and it has been around for a good while. It seems to have a history that goes back to before films even existed, which is interesting to consider.
Before moving pictures became a thing, there were, for example, "blue photos." These were pictures that were also considered a bit rude or not quite proper. So, the idea of using the word "blue" to mean something that is nasty, or lewd, or a bit out of line, seems to have a long history. It wasn't just something that came about with the start of movies; rather, it was already a way people described things that were a bit on the edge, you know.
The usage of "blue" for things that are a bit deviant or just not what you would talk about in polite company, so, appears to have roots that stretch back further than many might guess. It’s not totally clear why blue was the color chosen for this particular meaning, but it stuck. It became the go-to word, more or less, to describe material that was considered a bit too risqué. This makes you wonder, actually, about how certain words get these sorts of secondary meanings attached to them over time.
It’s almost as if the word "blue" itself took on a sort of hidden, suggestive quality when used in this way. This particular blue origin, you know, for describing adult content, has been pretty consistent for a long time. It shows how words can pick up meanings that are quite different from their original, literal sense, and how these meanings can then stay with the word for generations, even if the exact reason for the initial connection is a bit hazy to us now. It's a fascinating bit of language history, really.
The Blue Origin of "Blue Sky" and Business Talk
The true origin of some phrases, you know, is sometimes found in places you might not expect, like the world of business. This is certainly the case for the phrase "blue sky" when it describes something that is not quite right. In the early part of the 20th century, actually, the term "blue sky" was used quite often to talk about fraud. This was particularly true when it came to people who dealt with money, like financiers.
These financiers, you see, would sometimes try to make things seem much better than they actually were. They would inflate, or make bigger, the value of certain things, like investments, without there being any real substance behind them. It was like they were selling something that was as empty as the "blue sky" itself, without any real assets or value to back it up. This is how the phrase got its rather negative meaning in financial circles, you know.
So, if someone was talking about a "blue sky" deal, it meant that the deal was likely dishonest, or that it was based on promises that could not really be kept. It was a warning, in a way, that you were dealing with someone who was trying to trick you into something that had no real foundation. This is a pretty straightforward blue origin for a phrase that sounds quite pleasant on its own, but actually carries a rather serious meaning when used in this context.
It is interesting how a term that refers to something so open and vast, like the sky, could become linked with something so deceptive. This connection, you know, highlights how language can pick up very specific meanings within certain groups, like those in business. The idea of selling something that is just "blue sky," without any real value, became a common way to describe a particular kind of financial trickery. It is still a useful phrase, actually, to describe something that is overly optimistic and without solid ground.
How Did "Talk a Blue Streak" Get Its Blue Origin?
We might say that someone who is exceptionally chatty, or who talks a lot and very quickly, can "talk a blue streak," is that right? This phrase, you know, describes a person who just keeps on going with their words, almost without stopping. The origin of this particular way of speaking, so, has a bit to do with speed and intensity, in a manner of speaking. It’s a very descriptive phrase when you think about it.
The "streak" part of the phrase suggests something that moves very fast, like a flash of light or something that leaves a trail. When you combine that with "blue," it gives the idea of something that is not only fast but also perhaps a bit intense or even endless, you know, like the vastness of the sky. The person is talking so much, and so quickly, that their words seem to just stream out of them without pause, like a continuous line.
The meaning of this phrase, you see, is usually about someone who is very talkative, and it is not generally meant to be insulting. It’s more of a way to describe a characteristic, a person who just has a lot to say and says it all very quickly. It’s a nice way, actually, of pointing out someone's gift for gab, or their ability to just keep a conversation going for a long time. This blue origin is really about the speed and volume of speech.
So, when you hear someone "talking a blue streak," you can picture their words just flowing out in a continuous, fast-moving line, almost like a vivid, long mark. It’s a pretty colorful way to describe someone who is very verbose. This phrase, you know, is a good example of how language uses imagery to create a vivid picture of what someone is doing. It is a very common expression, and its blue origin helps us imagine the speed of the words.
The Blue Origin of "Working Blue" in Entertainment
The phrase "working blue" came into common usage, you know, particularly in the world of live entertainment. This was at a time when stage acts and performances were very popular. It referred to performers who would use material that was a bit risqué or off-color, perhaps with jokes or stories that were considered a little too rude for a general audience. It’s a bit like the "blue movie" idea, but for live shows.
If a representative from a big entertainment circuit, like the Keith Orpheum Circuit, which was very well-known, objected to the content of an act, they would send a message. This message, you see, was a request to cut the material that was deemed inappropriate. This request was sent backstage, often in a specific way, to let the performers know they needed to clean up their act, more or less.
The idea was that the material was "blue," meaning it was not suitable for everyone. So, when performers were told they were "working blue," it meant they were using jokes or stories that were a bit too much for the audience or the venue's standards. This blue origin, you know, comes directly from the practices of the entertainment business, where certain content was simply not allowed in family-friendly shows.
It’s interesting how this phrase, so, became a sort of code word in the entertainment world for material that pushed the boundaries. It shows how specific industries can develop their own language to describe their unique situations. The instruction to "cut the material" that was "blue" was a direct way of telling performers to tone things down. This is a pretty clear example of how a phrase gets its start from a very practical need in a particular setting.
Is There a Blue Origin for "Blue Air" and Cursing?
The association of "blue air" with cursing, or using bad language, has been around for quite some time, actually. It goes back at least to the 1880s, which is pretty old when you think about it. People would say someone was making the air "blue" if they were swearing a lot, creating a sort of verbal pollution, you know.
A book called "Slang and Its Analogues" by Farmer & Henley, published in 1890, even has a brief entry about this. It shows that the phrase was already recognized and understood as meaning someone was using very strong or offensive language. So, it wasn't just a new thing; it was already part of how people spoke, which is quite telling.
The interesting part of this blue origin, you see, might come from a scientific connection. The Wikipedia article on sulfur, for example, confirms something about its flame color. Sulfur burns with a blue flame. When it burns, it forms sulfur dioxide, which has a suffocating and irritating odor. So, the idea of "blue air" could be linked to this unpleasant, irritating, and perhaps even hellish, smell and appearance associated with sulfur fumes.
So, when someone "makes the air blue" with their words, it’s like their language is as unpleasant and irritating as the fumes from burning sulfur, you know, which has a blue flame. It’s a pretty vivid image, really, of words that are harsh and offensive. This is a very interesting blue origin, connecting a common phrase to a chemical reaction and its unpleasant side effects. It’s a clever way language uses a physical phenomenon to describe something abstract, like bad language.
What is the Blue Origin of "Scream Blue Murder"?
To "scream blue murder" means to shout very loudly and make a huge fuss, sometimes with the idea that the fuss is a bit too much or not really needed. It’s about making a big commotion, you know, as if something truly terrible has happened, even if it hasn't. But does anyone know why murder should be "blue"? That’s the interesting question, isn't it?
This phrase, so, also has a long history. An update from 1811 of Francis Grose's "A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue," which was originally from 1785, 1788, and 1796, is one of the first places where this particular phrase shows up. This means the phrase was already in use and considered part of common, informal language by that time, which is pretty old.
The "blue" part in "scream blue murder" is a bit less clear than some of the other blue origins we’ve looked at. Some people think it might be connected to the idea of something being truly dreadful or awful, like the "blue" in "blue air" or "blue movie." It suggests an extreme level of something, in this case, an extreme level of alarm or outrage. It's like the "blue" intensifies the idea of "murder," making it sound even more shocking or desperate.
So, when someone "screams blue murder," they are not just shouting about a murder; they are shouting about it in a very dramatic and over-the-top way, you know. It’s a way of saying they are really making a scene. The phrase captures the intensity of the outcry, making it sound almost unbearable. This blue origin, you know, adds a layer of exaggeration to the act of shouting, making it clear that the fuss is significant, perhaps even excessive.
The Blue Origin of "Off Color" Remarks
The phrase "off color," when used to describe remarks or jokes, means that they are somewhat salacious or a bit improper. It implies that the content is not quite suitable for polite company, or that it might make some people feel uncomfortable. This expression, you know, was already being used by 1875, which means it’s been around for a good while.
Chapman & Kipfer's "Dictionary of American Slang, Third Edition" from 1995 defines "off color" as an adjective phrase meaning "somewhat salacious" by 1875. This shows that the meaning has been consistent for a long time. The idea of something being "off color" suggests that it’s not quite right, or that it deviates from what is considered acceptable, in a way.
The blue origin here is not directly about the color blue itself, but rather about something being "off" from a standard or a norm. It is like a color that is not quite true, or a shade that is a bit strange. When applied to language, it means the words are not quite what they should be, that they lean towards something a bit rude or suggestive. It’s a subtle way of indicating that something is a little bit improper without being too direct.
So, an "off color" joke is one that might make you blush a little, or that you wouldn't tell in front of your grandparents, you know. It’s a very common way to describe humor that pushes the boundaries of good taste. This phrase, you see, is a good example of how language uses the idea of something being slightly "off" to describe something that is not quite appropriate. It’s a polite way, perhaps, of saying something is a bit naughty.
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