Yahoo Web Search

Sign In

Search results

      • It is from a bolt out of, also from, the blue, denoting a sudden and unexpected event, a complete surprise, with reference to the unlikelihood of a thunderbolt coming from a clear blue sky.
      wordhistories.net › 2017/07/14 › out-of-the-blue-origin

      the authentic origin of ‘out of the blue’ - word histories

  2. People also ask

  3. www.phrases.org.uk › meanings › 70700A Bolt From The Blue - Meaning & Origin Of The Phrase

    What's the meaning of the phrase 'A bolt from the blue'? A complete surprise, like a bolt of lightning from a clear blue sky – literally ‘out of the blue’. What's the origin of the phrase 'A bolt from the blue'?

  4. wordhistories.net › 2017/07/14 › out-of-the-blue-originthe authentic origin of ‘out of the blue’ - word histories

    Jul 14, 2017 · The phrase out of the blue means without warning, completely unexpectedly. It is from a bolt out of, also from, the blue, denoting a sudden and unexpected event, a complete surprise, with reference to the unlikelihood of a thunderbolt coming from a clear blue sky.

  5. jakubmarian.com › out-of-the-blue-meaning-andOut of the blue – meaning and origin of the English idiom

    While it would make sense that this “bolt” is a projectile fired from a crossbow (these are called “bolts”, not arrows), it is much more likely that it simply refers to a thunderbolt, i.e. lightning accompanied by thunder — who would expect a thunderbolt from a clear blue sky?

  6. www.dispatch.com › story › lifestyleDid You Know | What does out of the blue mean, and where did ...

    Nov 6, 2015 · Q: What does out of the blue mean, and where did it originate? A: It refers to a complete surprise, like a bolt of lightning from a clear blue sky. It sounds like a biblical or Shakespearean...

  7. usdictionary.com › idioms › out-of-the-blueOut Of The Blue: Definition, Meaning, and Origin

    • What Does "Out of the Blue" Mean? When we say something comes "out of the blue," we mean it happens totally unexpectedly. It's like a bird suddenly swooping down while you're enjoying a peaceful walk in the park.
    • Where Does "Out of the Blue" Come From? The idiom likely derives from the longer phrase "a bolt out of the blue," which refers to a sudden and unexpected event.
    • 10 Examples of "Out of the Blue" in Sentences. To help you understand how and when to use this idiom, here are some examples from various contexts: While I was surfing the net, an out-of-the-blue message from an old friend popped up on my screen.
    • Examples of "Out of the Blue" in Pop Culture. The phrase "out of the blue" is also widely used in pop culture, often in scenarios depicting unexpected events or surprises.

  8. www.phrases.org.uk › meanings › 204300It Came Like A Bolt From The Blue - Meaning & Origin Of The ...

    What's the origin of the phrase 'It came like a bolt from the blue'? The allusion here is to the surprise like a lightening bolt from a clear sky. Thomas Carlyle was the first author known to have used the term in print, in his The French Revolution, 1837: “Arrestment, sudden really as a bolt out of the Blue, has hit strange victims.”.

  9. grammarist.com › idiom › out-of-the-blueOut of the Blue - Idiom, Origin & Meaning - GRAMMARIST

    The expression out of the blue is an abbreviation of the older, longer idiom a bolt out of the blue, referring to the unlikelihood of lightning striking from a clear sky. Today, the phrase is used to express sudden surprise or to explain that something has occurred without warning.