purple
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Related to purpling: PDA
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born in the purple
Born into royalty. Purple is a color traditionally associated with royalty. Did you see pictures of the latest addition to the royal family? What a sweet little princess born in the purple!
born to the purple
Born into royalty. Purple is a color traditionally associated with royalty. Did you see pictures of the latest addition to the royal family? What a sweet little princess born to the purple!
have a purple patch
To experience much success or good luck. Primarily heard in UK. After falling behind early, the team had a purple patch and scored three quick goals to tie the game. After a few lean years, our business is finally having a purple patch, thank goodness.
purple kush
A particular strain of marijuana consisting of 100% indica, noted for its purple color. Police busted him for carrying nearly 10 pounds of purple kush in the trunk of his car. I just got some purple kush—want to toke up with me?
See also: purple
purple patch
1. A section of writing that is showy and extravagant and often stands out in contrast to the rest of the writing in a piece. I don't want to see a single purple patch in these research papers, class. Focus on communicating the facts!
2. A period marked by much success or good luck. Primarily heard in UK. After falling behind early, the team hit a purple patch and scored three quick goals to tie the game. We had few lean years, but our business is finally in a purple patch now, thank goodness.
purple prose
Writing that is full of flowery or excessively elaborate language. My early romance novels were nothing but purple prose—very embarrassing to read now.
See also: purple
purple state
In U.S. general elections, a state that votes in roughly equal proportion for candidates of both the Democratic and Republican Parties. Primarily heard in US. Whoever is going to win the election will have to focus their power on swinging the purple states of the country in their favor.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
born in (or to) the purple
born into a reigning family or privileged class.In ancient times, purple garments were worn only by royal and imperial families because of the rarity and costliness of the dye. Born in the purple (rather than to ) may have specific reference to the fact that Byzantine empresses gave birth in a room in the palace at Constantinople whose walls were lined with the purple stone porphyry. The title ‘the Porphyrogenitos’ or ‘Porphyrogenita’ was used for a prince or princess born in this room.
a purple patch
an ornate or elaborate passage in a literary composition.This term is a translation of Latin purpureus pannus , and comes from the Roman poet Horace's Ars Poetica: ‘Works of serious purpose and grand promises often have a purple patch or two stitched on, to shine far and wide’.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
purple kush
n. marijuana. He’s high on purple kush.
See also: purple
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
purple prose
Exceedingly florid, oversentimental writing. This term began life as purple patches in the Latin poet Horace’s De Arte Poetica (ca. 20 b.c.): “Often on a work of grave purpose and high promise is tacked a purple patch or two to give an effect of color.”
See also: purple
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer