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Out of the Blue

What Does "Out of the Blue" Mean?

homeidiomsOut of the Blue
"Out of the blue" is an English idiom. It means "sudden and unexpected; occurring without warning or prior notice."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "out of the blue" used in a sentence:
  • His phone call out of the blue surprised her, as they hadn't spoken in years.
  • The idea for the new project came to her out of the blue while she was in the shower.
  • The unexpected gift arrived out of the blue and brightened her day.
meaning for out of the blue

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Out of the Blue" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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