out of the blue
Unexpectedly, without warning
Littéralement: Coming from the blue sky
Use it to describe any event or communication that arrives unexpectedly and catches you off guard.
En 15 secondes
- Used for events that happen with zero warning.
- Comes from the idea of lightning in a clear sky.
- Works for both positive and negative surprises.
Signification
Imagine a clear blue sky where a lightning bolt suddenly hits. This phrase describes something that happens totally by surprise without any warning signs.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6An old friend calling
My high school best friend called me out of the blue yesterday.
My high school best friend called me unexpectedly yesterday.
Getting a job offer
The company sent me a job offer out of the blue.
The company sent me a job offer without any warning.
In a professional meeting
The client decided to cancel the project out of the blue.
The client decided to cancel the project unexpectedly.
Contexte culturel
The expression originates from the 19th-century poetic image of a lightning bolt striking from a cloudless sky. It reflects a time when weather was seen as unpredictable and often divine. Today, it is one of the most common idioms in the English-speaking world, used across the US, UK, and Australia.
Add 'Completely'
If you want to sound more dramatic, say 'completely out of the blue.' It makes the surprise sound even bigger!
Don't say 'from the blue'
Always use the preposition 'out of.' Saying 'from the blue' sounds unnatural to native speakers.
En 15 secondes
- Used for events that happen with zero warning.
- Comes from the idea of lightning in a clear sky.
- Works for both positive and negative surprises.
What It Means
Think about a perfectly sunny day. The sky is a deep, clear blue. Suddenly, something happens that you never expected. That is the essence of out of the blue. It describes an event, a message, or a person appearing when there was zero evidence it would happen. It is the linguistic version of a jump scare in a movie, but it can be for good things too.
How To Use It
You usually use it as an adverbial phrase at the end of a sentence. You can also put it at the start to add drama. For example, He called me out of the blue. It works perfectly when you want to emphasize how shocked you were. Just remember, it describes the *timing* of the event, not the event itself.
When To Use It
Use it when an old friend texts you after five years of silence. Use it when your car breaks down even though it was working fine a minute ago. It is great for storytelling. At a restaurant, you might say the waiter brought a free dessert out of the blue. It adds flavor to your stories and makes you sound more like a native speaker.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it for things you expected, even if they are big. If you knew your boss was firing people, his call isn't out of the blue. Also, avoid using it in extremely technical or legal documents. It is a bit too descriptive for a police report or a scientific paper. If you are describing a slow change, like the weather getting colder, this phrase does not fit.
Cultural Background
This phrase is actually a shortened version of 'a bolt out of the blue.' The 'blue' refers to the clear sky. In the 1800s, people used it to describe literal lightning hitting from a cloudless sky. Over time, we dropped the 'bolt' and kept the 'blue.' It captures the human feeling of being startled by the universe when everything seemed calm.
Common Variations
You might hear people say completely out of the blue to add extra emphasis. Another common one is bolt from the blue. If you want to sound a bit more formal, you could use all of a sudden. However, out of the blue remains the most popular way to describe a random, unexpected surprise in daily life.
Notes d'usage
This phrase is incredibly versatile and fits into almost any conversation. It is neutral in formality, making it a 'safe' idiom for learners to use in both social and professional settings.
Add 'Completely'
If you want to sound more dramatic, say 'completely out of the blue.' It makes the surprise sound even bigger!
Don't say 'from the blue'
Always use the preposition 'out of.' Saying 'from the blue' sounds unnatural to native speakers.
The Sky Connection
In English, 'the blue' is an old-fashioned poetic way to say 'the sky.' Knowing this helps you visualize the idiom.
Exemples
6My high school best friend called me out of the blue yesterday.
My high school best friend called me unexpectedly yesterday.
Shows the person hadn't been in contact for a long time.
The company sent me a job offer out of the blue.
The company sent me a job offer without any warning.
Implies the person didn't even apply or expect it.
The client decided to cancel the project out of the blue.
The client decided to cancel the project unexpectedly.
Professional but expresses surprise at a sudden change.
He just broke up with me out of the blue via text!
He just broke up with me without warning via text!
Conveys shock and emotional distress.
I was thinking about pizza, and then a delivery guy knocked out of the blue!
I was thinking about pizza, and then a delivery guy knocked unexpectedly!
Used for a humorous, lucky coincidence.
It started pouring rain out of the blue during our picnic.
It started raining unexpectedly during our picnic.
Describes a sudden environmental change.
Teste-toi
Choose the best word to complete the idiom.
I hadn't heard from Sarah in years, but she emailed me out of the ___.
The full idiom is 'out of the blue,' referring to the sky.
Identify the most natural use of the phrase.
The car engine stopped ___ while we were driving on the highway.
This phrase is used to describe a sudden, unexpected mechanical failure.
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Formality of 'Out of the Blue'
Texting friends about a surprise.
He texted me out of the blue!
Telling a story at work or to family.
The news came out of the blue.
Slightly too casual for legal contracts.
The termination occurred unexpectedly.
When to say 'Out of the Blue'
Old Contacts
An ex-boss calls you.
Bad Luck
Your laptop dies mid-email.
Good Luck
Finding money in an old coat.
Weather
A sudden storm on a sunny day.
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, it can be used for both good and bad surprises. You can win the lottery out of the blue or get a flat tire out of the blue.
Yes, it is perfectly fine for most business emails. For example, This request came out of the blue, but we can handle it.
Suddenly describes the speed of the action, while out of the blue emphasizes that there was no warning beforehand.
No, once in a blue moon means something happens very rarely. Out of the blue means something happens unexpectedly.
No, it is always out of the blue. Adding an 'a' would make the phrase incorrect.
It usually describes an action or an event, but you can say a person *appeared* out of the blue.
It is not slang; it is a standard idiom. It is safe to use with your boss, your friends, or your grandmother.
In very formal writing, you might use unexpectedly or without prior notice instead.
While it originated from weather, we rarely use it for weather today unless the change is truly shocking.
Usually, the phrase itself implies that there was no context or warning, so no further explanation is required.
Expressions liées
Bolt from the blue
A sudden and surprising event (the original version).
From left field
Something completely unexpected or strange.
All of a sudden
Happening quickly and unexpectedly.
Without a hitch
Happening perfectly without problems (often confused by learners).
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