English idiom

out of the blue

Register · Informal CEFR B2

Post

Figurative meaning

suddenly and unexpectedly

Why this phrase?

'The blue' means the clear sky; something unexpected appears from nowhere.

Example

“She called me out of the blue after ten years.”

Dictionary details

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

on cloud nine

Extremely happy and delighted.

hang on a minute

used to ask someone to wait, or to express surprise or objection

how on earth

an emphatic way of asking 'how', expressing surprise or disbelief

rain cats and dogs

to rain very heavily

ring a bell

to sound familiar or remind you of something

under the weather

Feeling slightly ill or unwell.

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

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