IDIOMS WITH COLOURS (blue)

1. to go off into the blue = go away suddenly and without trace.
The cashier went off into the blue with ten thousand dollars.
2. to have blue blood = be aristocratic.
3. to look/feel blue = look/feel sad, depressed.
4. to do something till one is blue in the face = work as hard and as long as one possibly can (usually without success).
He can write me letters till he's blue in the face, I'm not going to reply.
5. once in a blue moon = very rarely or never.
I see her once in a blue moon.
6. out of the blue = unexpectedly.
Her resignation came right out of the blue.
7. a bolt from the blue = unexpected and usually unwelcome event, complete surprise.
The news of her resignation was like a bolt from the blue.
8. a blue-collar worker = manual worker. (The opposite is a white-collar worker)
9. the boys in blue = the police.

Exercise Choose the right answer.

1. Are you OK? You look...
out of the blue / a blue-collar worker / blue.

2. When we got to the accident, ......were already there.
out of the blue /a blue joke / the boys in blue

3. You can argue.....but they will still do what they want.
to go off into the blue / till you are blue in the face / to have blue blood

5. The thieves managed to.....with all the money they stole from the bank.
go off into the blue / yell blue murder / have blue blood

6. Thomas works a lot. He goes on a holiday...
out of the blue / a bolt from the blue / once in a blue moon.

7. Nancy was walking with us and.....she disappeared.
once in a blue moon / out of the blue / a bolt from the blue

8. John really thinks he has....
go off into the blue / blue blood / out of the blue