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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

until one is blue in the face en · ADV

Pronunciation

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.

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic) For a hopelessly long time; used especially in respect to discussing, explaining, insisting, etc.
    • Poor Johnny one-note yelled willy nilly / Until he was blue in the face 1937, Rodgers and Hart, “Johnny One Note”:
    • You can explain it until you're blue in the face, but he will never understand.
    • Near-synonym: until the cows come home

Coordinates

all day

Relateds

cyanosis · livid · bluefaced · cyanotic

Synonyms

until the cows come home

Translations (7)

zza heta rı sur bo (for a long time) · ru до посинения (for a long time) · cs do zemdlení (for a long time) · fr jusqu'à en perdre haleine (for a long time) · pl do utraty tchu (for a long time) · cs do úmoru (for a long time) · cs do zblbnutí (for a long time)