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Jul 21, 2023 · Where does the idiom "out of the blue" come from? The phrase "out of the blue" is believed to have originated from the full phrase "a bolt out of the blue," referring to a surprise like a lightning bolt from a clear sky.
Out of the blue is an English idiom meaning “suddenly and unexpectedly”. You can use it when you are surprised by something that was not expected to happen. For example, I haven’t seen her since childhood. Then, completely out of the blue, I received a letter from her.
What Is the Origin of the Saying "Out of the Blue"? The term "out of the blue" means suddenly and unexpectedly. Examples of Use: He proposed out of the blue. I didn't suspect a thing. The deer came out of the blue and hit my car. Did you know Kate was leaving? She announced it out of the blue yesterday.
The expression’s original form, a bolt out of the blue, was likely in use before its first documented publication in 1837. It was initially used in reference to the unlikelihood of a bolt of lightning coming from a clear, blue sky.
Out Of The Blue - Meaning & Origin Of The Idiom. Out of the blue. Meaning. Suddenly and unexpectedly. Examples. We were sunbathing and then it just started to hail. It was literally out of the blue. Where did it originate? Britain, 19th century (as ‘a bolt from the blue’). Where is it used? Worldwide. Hear the idiom spoken. More idioms about.
Origin. “Out of the blue” is evolved form of an old idiom “a bolt out of the blue” or “ a bolt from the blue “. A bolt out of the blue also means something unexpected, like the occurrence of a bolt of lightning on a clear blue sunny sky.
If something happens out of the blue, it is completely unexpected: One day, out of the blue, she announced that she was leaving. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Not expected or planned. abrupt end. abrupt halt. abruptly. abruptness. ad hoc.
Jun 5, 2024 · Origin of this idiomatic phrase. The idiom “out of the blue” evolved from an older idiom. The older idiom used was “a bolt from the blue” or “a bolt out of the blue.” This phrase related a situation to a lightning bolt appearing suddenly from a clear blue sunny sky when it was not expected.
The idiom “out of the blue” is used to describe something that happens unexpectedly or without warning. It refers to a situation or event that occurs suddenly and catches you by surprise, as if it came from nowhere. The phrase suggests that there was no anticipation or preparation for the occurrence, making it all the more surprising. Example 1:
out of the blue unexpectedly; without warning or preparation. After I hadn’t heard from her in six months, she called me out of the blue to meet for lunch. I really can't understand how something like this could simply pop up out of the blue.
