out of the blue

Idioms are generally defined as groups of words that form a meaningful whole when they come together, even though the words in them do not make sense on their own. They have produced many idioms according to their own cultural characteristics in communities using the English language. What does out of the blue mean? In what situations is out of the blue used?

Meaning of "out of the blue"

Meaning

The phrase "out of the blue" is used to describe something that happens unexpectedly or without warning. It implies that the event in question happened suddenly, without any sort of logical explanation or anticipation. It is typically used to describe events that are either positive or negative, but mostly it is used to describe potential surprises that have a positive connotation.

Etymology

The phrase "out of the blue" has origins that can be traced back to the mid-1800s. It most likely comes from the phrase "out of a clear blue sky," which was used to describe something that happened unexpectedly or without warning. This phrase was commonly used to describe events in the military, such as an enemy attack or the arrival of supplies. Later, the phrase evolved to become "out of the blue," which is the more common version used today.

Usage

The phrase "out of the blue" is often used to describe unexpected good news or events. For example, if someone is suddenly given an unexpected job promotion, it can be said that the promotion came "out of the blue." Similarly, if a person receives an unexpected gift for no apparent reason, it can be described as coming "out of the blue."

The phrase can also be used to describe unexpected bad news or events. For instance, if a person receives a phone call from an unknown number and the caller is delivering bad news, it can be said that the news came "out of the blue."

Example Sentences

• I was surprised when my friend showed up out of the blue with a birthday present for me.
• He sent me an email out of the blue with an offer to buy my business.
• I was devastated when the news came out of the blue that my grandmother had passed away.
• Out of the blue, I received an invitation to attend a prestigious award ceremony.

The universal role of idioms

"Kill two birds with one stone" is an English idiom that means to accomplish two things with a single action. In French, the similar idiom is "Faire d'une pierre deux coups," which translates to "To kill two birds with one stone." This idiom highlights the efficiency of completing two tasks with one action.