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# turned the air blue

phrase (idiom, verb phrase: turn the air blue, turns, turned, turning)

«turned the air blue» in the English dictionary: in the primary school — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## In the primary school

Source: Mova's pupils' dictionary. Licence: [Elamur Cosmic License](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/LICENSE/). Reviewed: the dictionary the pupils of Mova's primary school read; its examples quote the lessons and public-domain tales. Ships with Mova.

### Meaning

(euphemism, UK) swore a lot, loudly.

### In the lessons

A colourful, jokey way to report heavy swearing without repeating the words; «blue» here means rude language. Common in British, Irish and Australian speech and news.

### Examples

- (gossip) When he hit his thumb with the hammer, he turned the air blue.
- (sport) The coach turned the air blue at the referee.
- (chat) dad stubbed his toe and turned the air blue lol
- (story) The parrot turned the air blue in front of the vicar.
- (news) Live on air, the guest turned the air blue.
- (Grandma) Don't turn the air blue in front of the children!

### Note

Trap: the air does not really change colour. «Blue» also means sad or a rude joke («blue jokes»). It reports swearing politely.