Have you ever heard someone use the phrase “out of the blue” and wondered what it means? In this post, I will explain the meaning, origin, and usage of this common idiom.
What does “out of the blue” mean?
The idiom “out of the blue” means suddenly, without warning, or unexpectedly. Something that is out of the blue comes as a complete surprise and is not anticipated or planned. For example:
- She called me out of the blue after five years of silence.
- He got a job offer out of the blue from his dream company.
- The storm came out of the blue and ruined our picnic.
Where does “out of the blue” come from?
The idiom “out of the blue” is actually the abbreviated form of the idiom “a bolt out of the blue”. Another version of the idiom is “a bolt out of the clear, blue sky”. These phrases relate a situation to a lightning bolt appearing suddenly from a clear blue sunny sky when it was not expected. The image of something dropping from the sky was transferred to sudden or surprising events in the late nineteenth century. For example:
- His death was a bolt out of the blue for his family and friends.
- She received a letter from her long-lost brother like a bolt out of the clear, blue sky.
- The news hit me like a bolt out of the blue.
How to use “out of the blue” in a sentence?
The idiom “out of the blue” can be used in various contexts and situations to express surprise, shock, or astonishment. It is usually followed by a verb in the past tense or a noun phrase. Here are some examples:
- Out of the blue, he proposed to her on their first date.
- I was walking down the street when out of the blue a bird pooped on my head.
- She had no idea that he was cheating on her until he confessed out of the blue.
- Out of the blue, they decided to move to another country.
- He quit his job out of the blue and became a monk.
Conclusion
The idiom “out of the blue” is a useful way to describe something that happens unexpectedly or without warning. It can be used to convey surprise, shock, or astonishment in various situations. It is derived from an older idiom that compares an unexpected event to a lightning bolt from a clear sky.
