purple passage
noun
1
: a passage conspicuous for brilliance or effectiveness in a work that is dull, commonplace, or uninspired
2
chiefly British : a piece of obtrusively ornate writing
called also purple patch
Word History
Etymology
translation of Latin pannus purpureus purple patch; from the traditional splendor of purple cloth as contrasted with plainer materials
First Known Use
1882, in the meaning defined at sense 1
purple passage
noun
as in quotation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- quotation
- locus classicus
- context
- citation
- sound bite
- clip
- sample
- longueur
- snippet
- extract
- selection
- excerpt
- passage
- someone's guess is as good as mine
- someone's head is in a spin
- someone's head is spinning
- someone's head/mind is in a spin
- someone's heart is knocking
- someone's heart sinks
- someone's knees are knocking
- someone's life depends on
- someone's life depends on (something)
- someone's life depends on something
- someone's lips are sealed
- someone's lookout
- someone's memory lives on
- someone's mind is in a spin
- someone's mind is made up
- someone's mind is playing tricks on her
- someone's mind is playing tricks on him
- someone's mind is playing tricks on him/her
- someone's money's worth
- someone's name is mud
- someone's normal self
- someone's number is up
- someone's prayers have been answered
- someone's return home
- someone's ship comes in