Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

until one is blue in the face

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.86 in modern English

Syllables: un-til one is blue in the -face
IPA

33

Scrabble Score

23

Letters

3

Syllables

13

Unique Chars

Meaning

adv

For a hopelessly long time; used especially in respect to discussing, explaining, insisting, etc.

Example Sentences

"Near-synonym: until the cows come home"
"You can explain it until you're blue in the face, but he will never understand."
"Poor Johnny one-note yelled willy nilly / Until he was blue in the face"

Etymology

By figurative extension from the concept of being literally out of breath (from talking so much, exerting oneself so much, and so on), which may sometimes cause one's face to look wan.

Frequently Paired Words

bluefaced cyanosis cyanotic livid all day

Synonyms

until the cows come home

Questions

What does until one is blue in the face mean?: For a hopelessly long time; used especially in respect to discussing, explaining, insisting, etc.
Where does until one is blue in the face come from?: By figurative extension from the concept of being literally out of breath (from talking so much, exerting oneself so much, and so on), which may sometimes cause one's face to look wan.

How to pronounce until one is blue in the face

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