SKIP TO CONTENT

blue in the face

/blu ɪn ðə feɪs/
IPA guide

Even if you explained your view of a situation until you were blue in the face, some could still misunderstand you.

If you went without air for too long, your skin could start turning a blueish color. If you talked for a really long time and never took a breath, maybe your face would start turning that same blueish color, but it would take a lot of talking to get to that point. In the same way, explaining something until you're blue in the face means talking for a long time, using a lot of effort.

Definitions of blue in the face
  1. idiom
    out of breath from emotion or effort, usually from talking about or explaining something
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago

Copy citation
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘blue in the face'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family