Idiom
Out of the blue
Something that happens out of the blue happens suddenly and unexpectedly, with no warning at all.
How people use it
It often describes calls, messages, visits, offers and ideas: an old friend called out of the blue. It can be good or bad news; the point is surprise. It usually comes after the verb or at the start of a sentence (Out of the blue, the power went out). It is informal but fine in most writing. People sometimes say "a bolt from the blue" for an especially shocking surprise.
Also said: a bolt from the blue.
Examples
- Out of the blue, my manager offered me a spot on the new project.
- The hailstorm came out of the blue and soaked everyone at the farmers market.
- Ben got a letter out of the blue from a cousin he'd never met.
Where it comes from
It is linked to the older phrase "a bolt from the blue", a flash of lightning from a clear blue sky, which would be completely unexpected. Writers were using that image in the 1800s. The shorter "out of the blue" became common in the early 1900s.
Check yourself
1. What does it mean if a job offer came out of the blue?
Answer: It arrived without any warning. Out of the blue means suddenly and unexpectedly.
2. Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
Answer: Out of the blue, an old classmate sent me a birthday card.. The idiom is about surprise, so a carefully planned event does not fit.
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