blues

a case of the blues

A state of sadness or melancholy, especially one that is brief or temporary. I don't know what's got me so down. I guess I just woke up with a case of the blues. Look, depression isn't just a case of the blues or being stuck in a funk. It's a serious condition that requires treatment. I always get the blues on Sundays. I guess it must be because the weekend is almost over.

See also: blues, case, of

baby blues

1. A usually brief period of sadness, anxiety, and mood swings experienced by a large percentage of women after giving birth. When I had the baby blues after having my first child, I would find myself crying without knowing why. Therapy was a big help to me when I was dealing with the baby blues. Luckily, my sister not that long ago, and it was helpful to watch someone else deal with everything from nursing to baby blues before I had to.

2. Blue eyes, especially those that are light blue. I just had to ask for Sean's number after I got a glimpse of his baby blues—I'd never seen such striking eyes before! I'm his grandmother, how am I supposed to resist his pleading baby blues? I think this brown mascara will really bring out your baby blues.

See also: baby, blues

blue

1. adjective Sad or depressed. I'm sorry, I'm just feeling a bit blue after getting back my exam results. Most people love the holidays, but they always make me blue. My kids are always blue on the last night of summer vacation.

2. adjective Obscene, vulgar, or risqué; dirty. My grandmother is the sweetest old lady you'll ever meet, but she sure loves telling blue jokes! I remember the video store down the street had a section of blue movies for adults that they would keep behind a black curtain. I know that a lot of people enjoy blue humor, but I find it to be crass.

3. adjective Of meat, especially steak, completely uncooked in the center; extra rare. A: "And how would you like your filet mignon, sir?" B: "Blue, please." He ordered his meat "blue," and I nearly threw up right there. I have no idea how people eat steak that's rare, or, worse yet, blue—I'm a well-done sort of guy.

4. adjective Of or referring to a political party whose representative color is blue. Analysts are predicting a blue wave in the congressional elections this year. It looks as though the seats of Westminster will be mostly blue after the Tories' dominance in the recent general election. My grandfather was a staunch conservative, so I can't imagine that he ever voted blue in any election.

5. noun, slang A police officer. Primarily heard in US. I never thought Jack would be a blue when he grew up, after all the trouble he used to get into as a kid. A: "What's that blue doing here?" B: "He's always walking around here—this is his beat." Ugh! Some blue gave me a ticket for parking here overnight.

6. noun, slang A 10 mg tablet of diazepam (more commonly known as Valium), which is blue in color. Usually used plurally. Primarily heard in US. I had to take a blue to calm me down before the big presentation. Apparently, he died of an overdose of blues. A: "If you're that nervous, why don't you take some of my blues?" B: "Nah, those things put me to sleep."

blues and twos

An emergency vehicle, such as an ambulance or police car, that has blue flashing lights and a siren that sounds two notes. Primarily heard in UK. Pull the car over and let the blues and twos pass. The police car whizzed by us, blues and twos going, and pulled over at the scene of the accident. When you're the patient, riding in an ambulance with the blues and twos is not exactly exciting.

See also: and, blues, two

cry the blues

1. Literally, to sing blues music or in that style. There was this old man crying the blues at the bar last night; it was a really moving bit of music. Who wants to listen to some guy cry the blues in a subway station? I'm headed to work, so I'm already depressed anyway! My friend Patrice has a very soulful voice. She'd do a great job crying the blues with your band.

2. By extension, to complain, whine, or express grief, especially as a means of gaining sympathy from others. Many people will cry the blues over trivial inconveniences, while millions of others silently suffer real hardships every day. Of course Hannah's crying the blues because she fell down and ripped her stockings—she's a toddler. She'll be fine. I'm not really concerned about Aunt Janie because she's always crying the blues about one thing or another.

See also: blues, cry

get the blues

To develop a feeling of general sadness or melancholy. I think a lot of people get the blues when the excitement of the holidays is over. I always get the blues on Sundays. I guess it must be because the weekend is almost over. When I get the blues, funny shows and movies usually help me to perk up.

See also: blues, get

have a case of the blues

To experience a mild or temporary state of sadness or melancholy. I don't know what's got me so down. I've just had a case of the blues since I woke up. Look, depression doesn't just mean you have a case of the blues from time to time. It's a serious, long-term condition that requires professional treatment. I always have a case of the blues on Sundays. I guess it must be because the weekend is almost over.

See also: blues, case, have, of

have the blues

To feel generally sad or melancholy. I don't know what it is, but I find I always have the blues on Sundays. Look, depression doesn't just mean you have the blues from time to time. It's a serious, long-term condition that requires professional treatment. I don't know what's got me so down. I've just had the blues since I woke up this morning.

See also: blues, have

sing the blues

1. Literally, to sing blues music or in that style. There was this old man singing the blues at the bar last night—it was a really moving bit of music.

2. By extension, to complain, whine, or express grief, especially as a means of gaining sympathy from others. Many people will sing the blues over trivial inconveniences, while millions of others silently suffer real hardships every day.

See also: blues, sing

Sunday blues

An acute feeling of depression or anxiety experienced on Sunday evening, typically owing to one's having to return to work or school the next day. I always get the Sunday blues around this time. I like school just fine, but knowing that the freedom of the weekend is almost over always bums me out. I'm not surprised you get such intense Sunday blues at the end of the weekend—your job has been so stressful lately.

See also: blues, Sunday

winter blues

A period of depression, melancholy, or unhappiness experienced during the dark, cold months of winter. A: "Are you OK? You've seemed really down lately." B: "Yeah, I just can't seem to shake these winter blues." I always get the winter blues really bad, so I usually spend the season in my parents' house in Florida.

See also: blues, winter

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

*blues

 

1. sadness; a mood of depression. (*Typically: get ~; have ~.) You'll have to excuse Bill. He's getting the blues thinking about Jane. I get the blues every time I hear that song.

2. a traditional style of popular music characterized by lyrics expressing hardship, lost love, etc. Buddy had been singing the blues ever since the Depression.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

have the blues

Also, feel blue. Feel depressed or sad, as in After seeing the old house in such bad shape, I had the blues for weeks, or Patricia tends to feel blue around the holidays. The noun blues, meaning "low spirits," was first recorded in 1741 and may come from blue devil, a 17th-century term for a baleful demon, or from the adjective blue meaning "sad," a usage first recorded in Chaucer's Complaint of Mars (c. 1385). The idiom may have been reinforced by the notion that anxiety produces a livid skin color. Also see blue funk.

See also: blues, have

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

blues and twos

the siren and blue flashing lights of an emergency-service vehicle. British informal

The twos refers to the vehicles' two-tone siren.

2003 Bolton Evening News They will go out with local officers and really learn the craft of being a beat bobby rather than just going out in blues and twos.

See also: and, blues, two

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

blue

1. mod. depressed; melancholy. That music always makes me blue.

2. mod. obscene; vulgar; dirty. Those blue jokes don’t go over very well around here.

3. n. the sky; the heavens. The idea came to me right out of the blue.

4. mod. alcohol intoxicated. You might say I’m blue. Others might note that I am stoned.

5. n. an amphetamine tablet or capsule, especially a blue one. (Drugs.) How are blues different from reds and yellows?

6. n. a police officer; the police. The blues will be here in a minute.

7. n. a 10-mg tablet of Valium. (Drugs.) In treatment they kept giving me blues to calm me down. Now I can’t live without them.

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.