blue1 adjectiveblue2 noun
blueblue1 /bluː/ ●●● S1 W2 adjective 
WORD ORIGINblue1
Origin:
1200-1300 Old French blouEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- blue language
- a dark blue sweater
- Her jokes are too blue for most audiences.
- I found the kids watching a blue movie on the video last night.
- Carrie's bright blue eyes mirrored her good health and she hummed happily to herself as she brushed down her best coat.
- Inside this box, the hot, red upwellings of the mantle moved past cold, blue downwellings.
- Quills of blue smoke rose out of the swinging ball.
- The man who shot Richard had grey hair and was wearing a black leather jacket, a blue jumper and jeans.
- There are blue laws and blue movies.
- Thousands of fertilized sea urchin eggs, starfish and blue clams returned to Earth with the astronauts.
Longman Language Activatorperson
feeling cold: · Dad, I'm cold. Can I put the heater on?· Your hands are really cold!feel cold: · He woke up in the middle of the night feeling cold.look cold: · Come and sit by the fire. You look cold.
also frozen British spoken feeling very cold and uncomfortable: · How much longer do we have to wait out her? I'm freezing.· You look absolutely frozen.
to shake a little because you are cold: · I was shivering in my thin sleeping bag.shiver with cold: · They were forced to wait outside for hours, shivering with cold.
to be so cold that your skin turns slightly blue: · He was huddled into his coat, his face blue with cold.· Look at her. The poor girl's quite blue with cold.
British /have goosebumps American to have small raised areas on your skin because you are cold: · She was shivering, her arms and legs covered in goosepimples.· Why don't you put something else on? You've got goosebumps.
if your teeth are chattering you are so cold that your teeth keep knocking together and you cannot stop them: · Her teeth were chattering with cold.
feeling sad or unhappy for a long time very unhappy and without any hope for a long time, and feeling that your life will never get better, sometimes so that this becomes a mental illness: · My sister's been really depressed since she lost her job.· A lot of people get depressed in the winter, when the weather's bad and there's very little sunlight.depressed about: · Greta often gets depressed about her weight.
informal unhappy, especially because something bad has happened to you and you cannot see how to make the situation better: · John's pretty low at the moment -- his business is losing money.· He's been feeling down since he failed his driving test for the fifth time.
informal feeling unhappy and not having much interest in what is happening around you, but usually in a way that is not very serious: · Mom's kind of down in the dumps at the moment -- why don't you buy her something to cheer her up?· If you're feeling down in the dumps, come over and have a chat.
informal to feel slightly sad or unhappy, because something bad has happened to you or sometimes for no particular reason: · Feeling blue? Don't know who to talk to? Phone Depression Hotline, 24 hours a day.
someone who is morose behaves in an unhappy, bad-tempered way, and does not speak much to other people: · Since the accident she's been morose and moody.· Frank was sitting alone at the table, looking morose.· Some people become morose and depressed when they first retire.
books, jokes, remarks etc that are about sex and are offensive obscene words or pictures are about sex and are very offensive: · 'Lady Chatterley's Lover' was banned as an obscene book.· He was charged with smuggling obscene materials into the UK.
informal dirty books, jokes, films etc are about sex - use this especially to show that you think these are unpleasant: · They just sit around telling dirty jokes - it's very boring.· He used to keep a collection of dirty books hidden under his bed.
clothes that are indecent show parts of the body that are usually covered; actions or movements that are indecent are sexual, but in a way many people think is not pleasant or acceptable: · You can't wear that dress to the dinner party -- it's positively indecent!· Models were forced into all sorts of indecent poses for the camera.
lewd remarks or behaviour show that the person saying them or doing something is thinking about sex, and they are usually offensive: · "Say no more!'' he grinned, giving her a lewd wink.· Although his jokes were a little lewd, he always made us laugh.
informal films, jokes etc that are blue are about sex and usually use offensive language: · I found the kids watching a blue movie on the video last night.· Her jokes are too blue for most audiences.
showing or describing sexual acts in a very offensive way: · The magazine printed filthy pictures that shocked everyone.
American jokes, stories, remarks etc that are off-color talk about sex in a way that is not acceptable in a particular situation: · He occasionally tells an off-color joke, but his image is practically that of a saint.
informal books, stories, films etc that are about sex - use this when you strongly disapprove of this: · There's too much violence and smut on TV these days.
WORD SETSamber, nounamethyst, nounapricot, nounaquamarine, nounashen, adjectiveauburn, adjectiveazure, adjectivebar, nounbarred, adjectivebeige, nounblack, adjectiveblack, nounblack, verbblack and white, adjectiveblacken, verbbleed, verbblood-red, adjectiveblue, adjectiveblue, nounbluish, adjectivebold, adjectivebottle green, nounbrassy, adjectivebrindled, adjectivebronze, nounbronze, adjectivebrown, adjectivebrown, nounbuff, nounburgundy, nouncarmine, nouncarroty, adjectivecerise, nouncerulean, nounchartreuse, nouncherry, nounchestnut, nounchestnut, adjectivechromatic, adjectivechrome yellow, nounclaret, nounclear, adjectivecoffee, nouncool, adjectivecopper, nouncoral, adjectivecream, adjectivecreamy, adjectivecrimson, adjectivecyan, adjectivedappled, adjectivedapple-grey, nounDay-Glo, adjectivediscoloration, noundiscolour, verbdrab, adjectivedull, adjectivedun, noundusky, adjectivedye, verbebony, adjectivefawn, adjectiveflaxen, adjectiveflesh-coloured, adjectiveflorid, adjectivefluorescent, adjectiveflush, nounfuchsia, noungarish, adjectivegarnet, noungaudy, adjectivegay, adjectiveginger, adjectivegold, noungold, adjectivegolden, adjectivegray, green, adjectivegreen, noungreenish, adjectivegrey, adjectivegrey, noungreyish, adjectivehazel, adjectiveindigo, nouniridescent, adjectiveivory, nounjade, nounjet-black, adjectivekhaki, nounlavender, nounleaden, adjectivelemon, nounlilac, nounlily-white, adjectivelime green, nounlivid, adjectiveloud, adjectiveluminous, adjectivelurid, adjectivemagenta, nounmagnolia, nounmahogany, nounmaroon, nounmatch, nounmauve, nounmellow, adjectivemellow, verbmonochrome, adjectivemousy, adjectivemuddy, adjectivemulticoloured, adjectivemustard, nounmuted, adjectivenavy blue, adjectiveneutral, adjectiveochre, nounoff-white, nounolive, nounopalescent, adjectiveorange, nounpale, adjectivepastel, nounpastel, adjectivepeach, nounpea green, nounpearly, adjectivepepper-and-salt, adjectivepink, adjectivepink, nounpinkish, adjectiveplum, nounplum, adjectivepowder blue, nounprimary colour, nounprimrose, nounprismatic, adjectivepuce, adjectivepure, adjectivepurple, nounpurplish, adjectivered, adjectivered, nounredden, verbreddish, adjectiveredhead, nounrestrained, adjectiverich, adjectiverose, nounrose, adjectiveroseate, adjectiverose-coloured, adjectiverosy, adjectiveroyal blue, nounruby, nounruddy, adjectiverusset, nounsable, adjectivesaffron, nounscarlet, adjectivesepia, nounshade, nounshocking pink, nounsienna, nounsilver, nounsilver, adjectivesilvery, adjectivesky-blue, adjectivesnow-white, adjectivesnowy, adjectivesoft, adjectivesombre, adjectivesteely, adjectivetaupe, nountawny, adjectiveteal, nountint, nountint, verbtone, nounturquoise, nountwo-tone, adjectiveultramarine, nounumber, nounvermilion, nounvibrant, adjectiveviolet, nounwarm, adjectivewaxen, adjectiveweak, adjectivewhite, adjectivewhite, nounwhiten, verbwhitish, adjectiveyellow, adjectiveyellow, nounyellow, verbyellowy, adjective
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
a dark blue raincoat I’ve been feeling kind of blue.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Sunset came and coloured the sky a brilliant red. a dark blue dress a dusky pink room Priscilla’s hair was dyed jet black. She had blue eyes and light brown hair. We painted the door blue. Paint the walls in a contrasting colour. The living room was painted in pastel shades of pink and blue. For the second time she won the blue ribbon (=first prize). Rose’s hair was already turning grey. In October the leaves turn orange and yellow. The sun had turned the sky a glowing pink.
a dark blue raincoat I’ve been feeling kind of blue. (=a type of cheese with blue lines in it and a strong taste)
· Our door was painted a bright green colour.
Sunset came and coloured the sky a brilliant red. a dark blue dress a dusky pink room Priscilla’s hair was dyed jet black.· Both their children have blue eyes.
· She looked into his deep blue eyes.· The tiny child’s pale blue eyes stared up at her appealingly.
She had blue eyes and light brown hair. (=jobs in which you work using your hands)· People from manual occupations are most at risk of experiencing poverty.
· I decided to use white paint throughout the house.
We painted the door blue. Paint the walls in a contrasting colour. The living room was painted in pastel shades of pink and blue. For the second time she won the blue ribbon (=first prize). informal (=scream very loudly with fear or anger)· She flew into a rage and screamed blue murder at him.
· The sun shone brightly upon the clear blue sea.
· The sky was blue and the sun was shining.
· Black smoke poured out of the engine.
Rose’s hair was already turning grey. In October the leaves turn orange and yellow. The sun had turned the sky a glowing pink. (=someone who does physical work)· Manual workers often live close to their workplace.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· Blues is a delicious full fat soft blue cheese with a creamy texture and good bite.· A sprinkling of blue cheese or Gorgonzola makes it extra special.· Add Cheddar cheese, blue cheese and 2 cups flour.· And the horseradish potato puree, braised greens, Maytag blue cheese and port wine sauce are also praiseworthy.· Nearly all blue cheeses are scalded and lightly pressed and tend to crumble.· The mold variety used in the making of blue cheeses has been in use for centuries and is apparently safe.· If you fancy a blue cheese, chose Roquefort over Stilton - the difference is 40 calories an ounce!· Of the remaining blue cheeses, Mycella is probably the best known.
· The City also wants to take it easier after yesterday's barrage of trading statements from blue chip companies.· Metal, paper and chemical makers were among the leading gainers, helping blue chips to an impressive advance.· Many blue chip companies use team-based competitions with a series of mental and physical challenges.· The index of blue chip stocks gained 159. 70 for the week.· After the auction, the blue chip benchmark inched higher to end at 6,170.3, a gain of 4.8 points.· That proved a bonanza in 1995, when blue chips were market leaders.· Joanne Tearle finds that the blue chip loan comes in many guises and choosing one may be your greatest problem.· Among blue chips, J. P. Morgan surrendered 2 5 / 8 to 79.
· The dark blue collar and shoulder straps are lined with scarlet cloth and edged with white lace.· They were blue collar in occupation, and they were haters.· Though most managers recognised the remarkable achievements of the machinists, the programmers were unhappy that blue collar workers remained in control.· They needed to put a little blue collar -- Carolina blue, if you will -- into all that pompous purple.· The report demonstrated that the 1980s austerity measures had disproportionately affected blue collar workers in comparison with white collar workers.· Beyond that, however labor markets are no longer a simple matter of distinguishing between white and blue collars.· Maybe Madonna is, like Cher, what director Franc Roddam calls' a genuine blue collar actress.
· Brown hair, àla Beatles, blue anorak, tatty blue jeans and guitar.· The faded blue jeans she wore that morning, her old tennis shoes, her white cotton sweater.· The head of a smart high-street men's shop attempted to tell me why corduroys are superior to blue jeans.· Seven months earlier my friend could be seen on campus wearing blue jeans and a shirt that said dumb things.· He wore a pair of faded blue jeans and a rugby shirt.· With his blond hair and blue eyes, Spelling plays a Valley dude who wears a tank top and blue jeans.· Co-star Steve McFadden, who plays Phil Mitchell, settled for a bomber jacket with blue jeans.· Alvin dressed in blue jeans, shirts and boots and looked like the renegade that he felt he was.
· So now he just comes round once in a blue moon.· A blue moon is the second full moon in one month.· Once in a blue moon the addressing system itself changes.· That happens only once in a blue moon, when the weather is cold enough and thus the ice thick enough.· The most recent observation of a blue moon was in Edinburgh in 1950.· And Eleanor was damn lucky to have him as an escort once in a blue moon.
· His bus turned into an Inter-City express without brakes and he sat on top and screamed blue murder.· It might get into the papers, and then she'd be down here knocking on my door and screaming blue murder.· I think that should be stopped - blue murder, vandalism and the lot.· They say people usually get upset and scream blue murder and all that shite, but no me.
· Then he went on gazing at Thérèse, voluptuous in flowered chintz and blue ribbons.· Then there was Raymond Lereaux who showed horses and won blue ribbons that he brought to school for Show and Tell.· A cot swathed in draperies and blue ribbon stood isolated in a corner.· Christine had friends in the Working Groups, and Tim wore the blue ribbon.· There were two large bouquets and a bundle of letters tied with pale blue ribbon, presumably from stage-door admirers.· The Longitude Act established a blue ribbon panel of judges that became known as the Board of Longitude.· A large jug and basin, charmingly ornamented with a design of blue ribbon, was its centre-piece.· There are blue devils and blue ribbons and blue bloods.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► argue/talk etc till you’re blue in the facePHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► blue-chip companies/shares etc► between the devil and the deep blue sea
1having the colour of the sky or the sea on a fine day: - He had a wicked tongue when roused and could talk a blue streak.
- I was talking a blue streak.
- Ben, naked except for the strait-jacket, and blue with cold, was heaving and struggling and bellowing.
- Doug emerges from the cabin looking blue with cold.
- Gerda approached Kay, who was blue with cold but oblivious to his predicament because of the ice in his heart.
- Celia came down holding the baby, who had gone blue and stopped breathing.
- Do not put the bandage on too tight or you may find your fingers or toes going blue through lack of circulation.
- I could have threatened to hold my breath until I went blue.
- Strictly speaking, yes, it would tend to go blue ever so slightly.
- The baby boy went blue after his lungs became blocked.
- You rolled around, went blue and your eyes shot up into your head.
- Even so, dismissal should never come as a bolt from the blue, however exalted your place in the corporate hierarchy.
- Inspiration hit me like a bolt from the blue on the way home.
- The Mishcon job came like a bolt from the blue.
- I can tell you the boys in blue are pleased you've turned up.
- I could just as easily send the Boys in Blue.
- The rising sun slowly turns the drab greys and dull browns of the mountains to patches of pale gold and dusty pinks.
- Sam drove off in a funk.
- At extremely fast tempos this lilt is lost and they even out as they would in a funk or fusion context.
- Montross is frank enough to admit that all this put him in a funk for a third of the season.
- Beyond Volkswagens and medium blue cars or big black cars, Carla could not tell one car from the other.
- It came in two colours, medium brown or medium grey; it shone with a slightly oily sheen.
- She was slim, five feet four inches tall, and had medium brown skin.
- Once in a blue moon Eric will offer to help with the dishes, but usually he doesn't do any housework at all.
- I used to spend a lot of time in London, but now I only go there once in a blue moon.
- We go out to eat once in a blue moon.
- And Eleanor was damn lucky to have him as an escort once in a blue moon.
- So now he just comes round once in a blue moon.
- That happens only once in a blue moon, when the weather is cold enough and thus the ice thick enough.
- By flaking off successive layers, the tree displays a bark of beige, cinnamon, lime green and slate blue.
- Immature has tail brown but throat white, with most of bill slate blue.
- Matching long-line briefs, £19, s, m, l, Also in classic navy and slate grey.
- Most remarkably it continued to function under California's midday sun, when it's slate grey shell was too hot hold!
- The falls of the flowers are a delicate yellowish green veined with slate blue.
- The sky past his profiled head had gone slate blue above a jagged paleness of snow.
- They were hard pin-points of slate blue beneath bushy eyebrows.
the blue waters of the lakedark/light/pale/bright blue a dark blue raincoat2[not before noun] informal sad and without hope SYN depressed: I’ve been feeling kind of blue.3 informal blue jokes, stories etc are about sex, in a way that might offend some people → blue movie4argue/talk etc till you’re blue in the face informal to argue, talk etc about something a lot, but without achieving what you want: You can tell them till you’re blue in the face, but they’ll still do what they want.5blue with cold especially British English someone who is blue with cold looks extremely cold6go blue British English if someone goes blue, their skin becomes blue because they are cold or cannot breathe properly7talk a blue streak American English informal to talk very quickly without stopping—blueness noun [uncountable] → black and blue, → once in a blue moon at once1(15), → scream blue murder at scream1(1)blue1 adjectiveblue2 noun
blueblue2 ●●● S3 W3 noun EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Carolyn's the one dressed in blue.
- I especially like the rich blues and reds of the painting.
- Come to think of it, Columbia wouldn't have been around if it hadn't been for the blues.
- Expect thunder, expect lightning, expect country and blues and rock and expect him to offer the unexpected, too.
- From the heart of a large flat pebble-shaped stone he has revealed two fishes in brilliant, iridescent blues.
- He saw a woman in the rich blue of a nursing uniform at the wheel.
- His eyes are a washed-out blue.
- On the other hand, blue and green are subdued and bring calm to a garden.
- The elegant spring spires of delphiniums are perhaps the truest of the blues.
- These good ole boys could turn the blues into a rainbow.
Longman Language Activatorwhen something happens that you did not expect
something that is unexpected surprises you because you did not expect it: · There have been unexpected delays on the freeway because of an accident.completely/totally unexpected: · Bobby's decision to leave the band was totally unexpected.
: unforeseen circumstances/problems/changes etc situations, problems, changes etc that you did not expect or prepare for, and which usually cause you difficulty: · We had to cancel our visit to Egypt because of unforeseen problems.· Once you have started the training you will not be allowed to leave, unless unforeseen circumstances arise.
if something that happens is a surprise or comes as a surprise , you did not expect it to happen, and so you are surprised by it: · Winning the award was a total surprise.be a surprise/come as a surprise to: · Fazio's announcement came as a surprise to most political observers.
informal if something happens out of the blue , you did not expect it, and you are very surprised or shocked by it: · Out of the blue, he asked me to come with him to Europe.· One evening, Angela phoned me out of the blue and said she was in some kind of trouble.
informal one that you did not expect, so that you are very surprised: · Mary's the last person you'd expect to be stopped for drunk driving· It's such a quiet little village - it's the last place you'd expect something like this to happen.
to happen or do something when someone is not expecting it and not ready to deal with it: · I was caught unawares by the hug and the kiss he gave me.· Her rude comments really caught me off guard.
formal if something happens contrary to expectations , it is the opposite of what people expected to happen: · Contrary to expectations, the play was a big success.contrary to somebody's expectations: · Michael won the competition, contrary to everyone's expectations.
happening unexpectedly, because no one was told about it: · Investigators from the health department made unannounced visits to the hospital in March.arrive unannounced/show up unannounced: · My brother is famous for showing up at our houses unannounced, usually around dinner time.
if something happens that you did not expect in your wildest dreams , it is so good that you never thought that there was any possibility that it could happen: · In our wildest dreams, we could not have expected how successful this program would be.never in somebody's wildest dreams: · Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined she would win the gold medal.
if you get more than you had bargained for , you have more problems or difficulties while doing something than you had expected or prepared for: · Their summer vacation turned out to be much more expensive than they'd bargained for.· We got more than we bargained for when we bought the house. There's so much work to be done!
a sad feeling a sad feeling, caused especially when a happy time is ending, or when you feel sorry about someone else's unhappiness: · Her eyes were full of sadness.with (great) sadness: · I remembered with great sadness all the friends I had left behind.sense of sadness: · After her death, Charles felt a great sense of sadness and loss.
the unhappy feeling you have when you are in a very difficult or unpleasant situation: · After years of unhappiness, she finally decided to leave him.· There is no doubt that unhappiness contributes to ill health.· You've no idea what unhappiness you cause your parents when you say that you want to leave home.
especially written great sadness that you feel when someone you love has died: · Thousands of people sent floral tributes as an expression of their grief.· He was overcome with grief when his wife died.
a mental illness that makes someone feel so unhappy that they have no energy or hope for the future, and they cannot live a normal life: · The family had a history of alcoholism and depression.· Mild symptoms of anxiety and depression are often associated with social difficulties.deep/severe depression: · My father had suffered from severe depression for many years.
a feeling of sadness that is not very serious, that you get sometimes for no particular reason: get/have the blues: · I often get the blues in February, before the spring arrives.a fit of the blues: · It's very common for new mothers to have a fit of the blues after giving birth.the Monday/post-Christmas etc blues: · Most people know what it's like to have the Monday morning blues.
great unhappiness, caused especially by living or working in very bad conditions: · The high interest rates caused misery for millions of people.the misery of something/somebody: · He talked openly about the misery of his marriage.· We cannot ignore the misery of the people in this country who are forced to live on the streets.
written a feeling of sadness, especially one that continues for a long time: · He was a strange man, prone to melancholy and bouts of drinking.· Jake was fourteen and suffering from adolescent melancholy.
written the feeling of being very sad, especially because someone has died or because terrible things have happened to you: · deep/great sorrow: · The deep sorrow she felt was obvious in the expression of her face.in sorrow: · He turned quickly away, more in sorrow than in anger.to somebody's sorrow: · Six weeks later we heard, to our great sorrow, that he had died.
a feeling of unhappiness and worry, that often continues for a long time and is usually caused by problems in your personal life and relationships: · Her relationship with Tyler had brought her a great deal of heartache.· Being unpopular at school can cause real heartache to children of any age.save/spare (somebody) a lot of heartache (=stop someone worrying and feeling unhappy): · If she had simply called them, her parents would have been spared a lot of heartache.
formal a feeling of unhappiness, especially because you have been very disappointed and feel that you cannot change a situation: · Robyn walked away from the hospital with a feeling of despondency.· The sense of well-being of the 1980s was replaced by a mood of despondency.gloom/doom and despondency: · The atmosphere amongst the workers was one of gloom and despondency.
a feeling of great unhappiness, because very bad things have happened and you have no hope that anything will change: · I could see hunger, exhaustion and despair in their eyes.· There was a mood of despair about the quality of urban and industrial life.in despair: · Left all alone in her room, she was in despair.the depths of despair: · It seems that he had reached the depths of despair, and he finally took his own life.
suddenly if something happens suddenly , it happens quickly when you are not expecting it: · Suddenly there was a loud bang and all the lights went out.· I suddenly realized that there was someone following me.die suddenly (=die unexpectedly): · Several years ago her husband died suddenly at the age of 64.
suddenly - use this especially in stories or descriptions of past events: · We waited and waited, then all of a sudden we saw a sail on the horizon.· The way he decided to leave all of a sudden didn't make any sense.
if something happens out of the blue , you are not expecting it at all, and you are very surprised by it: · She told me, out of the blue, that she was going to live in New York.completely out of the blue: · Do you remember Jane? Well, she phoned me yesterday, completely out of the blue.
if something ends or if someone moves or speaks abruptly , they do it suddenly and unexpectedly: · The party was stopped abruptly when the police turned up.· She turned abruptly and went back inside.· "You may leave now,'' he said, abruptly.
if something bad or dangerous happens without warning , it happens suddenly and there were no signs that it was going to happen: · Without warning, tears began to roll down his cheeks.· At five to four Greg went into convulsions. It happened suddenly and without warning.
if you do something on the spur of the moment , you suddenly decide to do something that you had not planned to do: · I bought the car on the spur of the moment.· On the spur of the moment, we decided to head north that day instead of East.
if you say that someone does something or something appears from out of nowhere , it happens suddenly so that you are surprised or shocked: · From out of nowhere he asked me to marry him.· I was doing 80 miles per hour when from out of nowhere this cop on a motorcycle pulled me over.
if something happens at short notice , it happens suddenly without you having time to prepare for it: · Both players pulled out of the competition yesterday at short notice.· Occasionally, tours may have to be cancelled at short notice.
WORD SETSamber, nounamethyst, nounapricot, nounaquamarine, nounashen, adjectiveauburn, adjectiveazure, adjectivebar, nounbarred, adjectivebeige, nounblack, adjectiveblack, nounblack, verbblack and white, adjectiveblacken, verbbleed, verbblood-red, adjectiveblue, adjectiveblue, nounbluish, adjectivebold, adjectivebottle green, nounbrassy, adjectivebrindled, adjectivebronze, nounbronze, adjectivebrown, adjectivebrown, nounbuff, nounburgundy, nouncarmine, nouncarroty, adjectivecerise, nouncerulean, nounchartreuse, nouncherry, nounchestnut, nounchestnut, adjectivechromatic, adjectivechrome yellow, nounclaret, nounclear, adjectivecoffee, nouncool, adjectivecopper, nouncoral, adjectivecream, adjectivecreamy, adjectivecrimson, adjectivecyan, adjectivedappled, adjectivedapple-grey, nounDay-Glo, adjectivediscoloration, noundiscolour, verbdrab, adjectivedull, adjectivedun, noundusky, adjectivedye, verbebony, adjectivefawn, adjectiveflaxen, adjectiveflesh-coloured, adjectiveflorid, adjectivefluorescent, adjectiveflush, nounfuchsia, noungarish, adjectivegarnet, noungaudy, adjectivegay, adjectiveginger, adjectivegold, noungold, adjectivegolden, adjectivegray, green, adjectivegreen, noungreenish, adjectivegrey, adjectivegrey, noungreyish, adjectivehazel, adjectiveindigo, nouniridescent, adjectiveivory, nounjade, nounjet-black, adjectivekhaki, nounlavender, nounleaden, adjectivelemon, nounlilac, nounlily-white, adjectivelime green, nounlivid, adjectiveloud, adjectiveluminous, adjectivelurid, adjectivemagenta, nounmagnolia, nounmahogany, nounmaroon, nounmatch, nounmauve, nounmellow, adjectivemellow, verbmonochrome, adjectivemousy, adjectivemuddy, adjectivemulticoloured, adjectivemustard, nounmuted, adjectivenavy blue, adjectiveneutral, adjectiveochre, nounoff-white, nounolive, nounopalescent, adjectiveorange, nounpale, adjectivepastel, nounpastel, adjectivepeach, nounpea green, nounpearly, adjectivepepper-and-salt, adjectivepink, adjectivepink, nounpinkish, adjectiveplum, nounplum, adjectivepowder blue, nounprimary colour, nounprimrose, nounprismatic, adjectivepuce, adjectivepure, adjectivepurple, nounpurplish, adjectivered, adjectivered, nounredden, verbreddish, adjectiveredhead, nounrestrained, adjectiverich, adjectiverose, nounrose, adjectiveroseate, adjectiverose-coloured, adjectiverosy, adjectiveroyal blue, nounruby, nounruddy, adjectiverusset, nounsable, adjectivesaffron, nounscarlet, adjectivesepia, nounshade, nounshocking pink, nounsienna, nounsilver, nounsilver, adjectivesilvery, adjectivesky-blue, adjectivesnow-white, adjectivesnowy, adjectivesoft, adjectivesombre, adjectivesteely, adjectivetaupe, nountawny, adjectiveteal, nountint, nountint, verbtone, nounturquoise, nountwo-tone, adjectiveultramarine, nounumber, nounvermilion, nounvibrant, adjectiveviolet, nounwarm, adjectivewaxen, adjectiveweak, adjectivewhite, adjectivewhite, nounwhiten, verbwhitish, adjectiveyellow, adjectiveyellow, nounyellow, verbyellowy, adjective
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY A lot of women get the blues after the baby is born.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Sunset came and coloured the sky a brilliant red. a dark blue dress a dusky pink room Priscilla’s hair was dyed jet black. She had blue eyes and light brown hair. We painted the door blue. Paint the walls in a contrasting colour. The living room was painted in pastel shades of pink and blue. For the second time she won the blue ribbon (=first prize). Rose’s hair was already turning grey. In October the leaves turn orange and yellow. The sun had turned the sky a glowing pink.
A lot of women get the blues after the baby is born. (=a type of cheese with blue lines in it and a strong taste)
· Our door was painted a bright green colour.
Sunset came and coloured the sky a brilliant red. a dark blue dress a dusky pink room Priscilla’s hair was dyed jet black.· Both their children have blue eyes.
· She looked into his deep blue eyes.· The tiny child’s pale blue eyes stared up at her appealingly.
She had blue eyes and light brown hair. (=jobs in which you work using your hands)· People from manual occupations are most at risk of experiencing poverty.
· I decided to use white paint throughout the house.
We painted the door blue. Paint the walls in a contrasting colour. The living room was painted in pastel shades of pink and blue. For the second time she won the blue ribbon (=first prize). informal (=scream very loudly with fear or anger)· She flew into a rage and screamed blue murder at him.
· The sun shone brightly upon the clear blue sea.
· The sky was blue and the sun was shining.
· Black smoke poured out of the engine.
Rose’s hair was already turning grey. In October the leaves turn orange and yellow. The sun had turned the sky a glowing pink. (=someone who does physical work)· Manual workers often live close to their workplace.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· We were pretty much trying to emulate a lot of the early black blues sound.
· White predominated, sea-green and bright blue were also favourites.· He was wearing some kind of uniform, navy blue with bright blue buttons.· It is divided horizontally by color with bright blue on the head and back and yellow on the stomach and tail.· The sky was bright blue, and the woods glowed with light.· The rims of the eyes also have this same bright blue, and they retain this coloration in the adult stage.
· From the heart of a large flat pebble-shaped stone he has revealed two fishes in brilliant, iridescent blues.· It is light turquoise in the east, grading to deep, dark, brilliant blue in the west.
· Kelly green, cobalt blue and fire-engine red.
· Prussian blue, a dark rich blue discovered in Berlin in 1704, alluding to the colour of Tony Weller's face.· Midway between sun and stagnant water he blazed in his glorious colors of putrefaction dark green, dark blue, black.· All three stores looked lighter and brighter after the dark blues and browns of their old decor gave way to pastel colours.· The smoke of smelters and charcoal kilns smudged a sky that all down the pass had been a dark, serene blue.· Auburn and dark blue, honey and blood mixed together: the colour of a bruise.· His eyes seemed darker blue and more wide open than usual.· Mr Sammler, back walking the streets, which now were dark blue, a bluish glow from the street lamps.· The tail is completely dark blue.
· They had selected a full-skirted velvet frock in a deep royal blue which set off her auburn hair.· The color of the body is a deep blue to purple and that of the head a bright orange-yellow.· By morning thick clouds drift over, but the sky between them is deep blue and occasionally the sun peeks through.· The sky is a deep blue.· The sky has evolved into a mute deep blue, huge and high.· Her eyelids were painted deep blue and her full mouth was a slick red.
· The light blues beat Oxford in a report judging the quality of research in 172 universities and colleges.· Color: Light blue collars a pale neck, behind writhe thick green vines, exploding ultramarine blooms.· On paper it appears the light blues are inches shorter ... and a few months older ... but what about on the water?
· He threw my dress shirt over it so all was pale blue.· It is the pale, icy blues and strong medium shades that are now the most popular.· He was wearing pale blue brushed denim pants and a pale blue shirt that made his blue eyes look nearly luminous.
· A box of royal blue was opened by the Court Chamberlain and the awards placed over the recipients' shoulders.· They had selected a full-skirted velvet frock in a deep royal blue which set off her auburn hair.
NOUN· These cotton yellows, peachy pinks and baby blues transport us, delighted, to the land of Tupperware.
· Walls a saturated sky blue, broken by gray the color of storm clouds.
VERB· There was always a way to beat bad weather blues and enjoy ourselves.· Can a younger lover beat the ageing blues - or would a change of style do the trick for you?
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► the blue► BluePHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► blue-chip companies/shares etc► between the devil and the deep blue sea
1[countable, uncountable] the colour of the sky or the sea on a fine day: - a blues singer
- A lot of women get the blues after the baby is born.
- I often get the blues in February, before the spring arrives.
- It's very common for new mothers to have a fit of the blues after giving birth.
- Most people know what it's like to have the Monday morning blues.
- Her voice was good and strong and the sound - she sang the blues - shivered through the house like a charge.
- Louis, Gretzky said he has had no conversations with the Blues.
- Or as Gay Byrne knows, even Catholic housewives get the blues.
- That s why everybody digs the blues.
- The blonde midfield ace scored two quickfire goals in a minute to rescue this opening Gold Cup tie for the Blues.
- The elegant spring spires of delphiniums are perhaps the truest of the blues.
- You want the blues? asked Pryor, leaning back in his chair.
- Do you remember Jane? Well, she phoned me yesterday, completely out of the blue.
- One evening, Angela phoned me out of the blue and said she was in some kind of trouble.
- Out of the blue, he asked me to come with him to Europe.
- She told me, out of the blue, that she was going to live in New York.
- Symptoms of the disease often appear out of the blue.
- And now here was a shiny new fence, built out of the blue while our backs were turned.
- Even with a mysterious ex-lover who had turned up out of the blue after more than sixteen years' absence.
- It came to me out of the blue.
- It was totally out of the blue.
- Now you turn up out of the blue talking about us like we were a Lionel Ritchie lyric.
- The pair are travelling in their caravan when a sinister family pitches up out of the blue.
- Then, too, his thinking had hardly dropped out of the blue.
- They just came around, out of the blue, to try and hurt me.
- Even so, dismissal should never come as a bolt from the blue, however exalted your place in the corporate hierarchy.
- Inspiration hit me like a bolt from the blue on the way home.
- The Mishcon job came like a bolt from the blue.
- I can tell you the boys in blue are pleased you've turned up.
- I could just as easily send the Boys in Blue.
- The rising sun slowly turns the drab greys and dull browns of the mountains to patches of pale gold and dusty pinks.
- Sam drove off in a funk.
- At extremely fast tempos this lilt is lost and they even out as they would in a funk or fusion context.
- Montross is frank enough to admit that all this put him in a funk for a third of the season.
- Beyond Volkswagens and medium blue cars or big black cars, Carla could not tell one car from the other.
- It came in two colours, medium brown or medium grey; it shone with a slightly oily sheen.
- She was slim, five feet four inches tall, and had medium brown skin.
- Once in a blue moon Eric will offer to help with the dishes, but usually he doesn't do any housework at all.
- I used to spend a lot of time in London, but now I only go there once in a blue moon.
- We go out to eat once in a blue moon.
- And Eleanor was damn lucky to have him as an escort once in a blue moon.
- So now he just comes round once in a blue moon.
- That happens only once in a blue moon, when the weather is cold enough and thus the ice thick enough.
- By flaking off successive layers, the tree displays a bark of beige, cinnamon, lime green and slate blue.
- Immature has tail brown but throat white, with most of bill slate blue.
- Matching long-line briefs, £19, s, m, l, Also in classic navy and slate grey.
- Most remarkably it continued to function under California's midday sun, when it's slate grey shell was too hot hold!
- The falls of the flowers are a delicate yellowish green veined with slate blue.
- The sky past his profiled head had gone slate blue above a jagged paleness of snow.
- They were hard pin-points of slate blue beneath bushy eyebrows.
She nearly always dresses in blue. the rich greens and blues of the tapestry2blues (also the blues) [uncountable] a slow sad style of music that came from the southern US: a blues singer → rhythm and blues3the blues [plural] informal feelings of sadness: A lot of women get the blues after the baby is born.4out of the blue informal if something happens out of the blue, it is very unexpected → a bolt from/out of the blue at bolt1(3)5Blue [countable] British English someone who has represented Oxford or Cambridge University at a sport, or the title given to such a person6the blue literary the sea or the sky → boys in blue at boy1(9)