Idiom Topics

  • The Ubiquitous Essentials

    10
    • On the other hand
    • At the end of the day
    • In the long run
    • Bear in mind
    • A piece of cake
    • Keep an eye on
    • Out of the blue
    • Rule of thumb
    • So far, so good
    • Behind the scenes

  • Everyday Casual & Workplace

    10
    • Under the weather
    • Call it a day
    • Up in the air
    • Wrap your head around
    • Break the ice
    • Get out of hand
    • Go the extra mile
    • Touch base
    • Hit the nail on the head
    • Cut corners

  • Problem Solving & Interaction

    10
    • See eye to eye
    • Read between the lines
    • Take it with a grain of salt
    • Get the hang of it
    • Give the benefit of the doubt
    • The elephant in the room
    • Hit the ground running
    • Play it by ear
    • Bite the bullet
    • Sit on the fence

  • Decisions & Perspectives

    9
    • Jump on the bandwagon
    • Cross that bridge when we come to it
    • The best of both worlds
    • A blessing in disguise
    • Once in a blue moon
    • Pull someone's leg
    • Miss the boat
    • Better late than never
    • Get your act together

  • Colorful & Traditional

    10
    • Spill the beans
    • Let the cat out of the bag
    • Bite off more than you can chew
    • Go back to the drawing board
    • Barking up the wrong tree
    • Actions speak louder than words
    • A penny for your thoughts
    • Break a leg
    • Hit the sack
    • Beat around the bush

  • Academic & Formal Discourse

    10
    • Bear fruit
    • Pave the way
    • Shed light on
    • Go hand in hand
    • Tip the scales
    • Fly in the face of
    • Bring to the table
    • Turn a blind eye
    • Draw a blank
    • State of the art

  • Emotions & Reactions

    10
    • Over the moon
    • Down in the dumps
    • On edge
    • Blow off steam
    • Keep your cool
    • Drive someone up the wall
    • On cloud nine
    • A weight off my shoulders
    • At your wits' end
    • Thrilled to bits

  • Effort, Success, & Failure

    10
    • Start from scratch
    • Pass with flying colors
    • Fall flat
    • Go down the drain
    • Keep your head above water
    • Pay off
    • Throw in the towel
    • Make headway
    • Uphill battle
    • Back to square one

  • Time, Speed, & Urgency

    10
    • Beat the clock
    • At the eleventh hour
    • Around the clock
    • In the nick of time
    • Drag your feet
    • Time flies
    • Make up for lost time
    • Call time on
    • Ahead of the curve
    • On the spur of the moment

  • Resources, Money, & Value

    10
    • Make ends meet
    • Foot the bill
    • Break the bank
    • Tighten your belt
    • Bang for your buck
    • A drop in the ocean
    • Make a killing
    • On a shoestring budget
    • Worth your weight in gold
    • Pay top dollar

Out of the blue

Learn the meaning, origin, and usage of the idiom "Out of the blue" with five example sentences across different contexts. This idiom is part of ourThe Ubiquitous Essentials collection for PTE and IELTS preparation.

The Ubiquitous Essentials

Out of the blue

Out of the blue
Happening completely unexpectedly, suddenly, or without any warning.
History & Origin

This idiom is a shortened version of the older phrase 'a bolt out of the blue,' which compares an unexpected event to a sudden flash of lightning striking from a clear blue sky. In a time before modern meteorology, such an occurrence was seen as a complete, shocking surprise. The phrase began appearing regularly in English literature during the 19th century to describe sudden, disruptive news.

Examples
Workplace Email

The corporate restructuring plan came completely out of the blue, catching the entire department off guard.

Casual Conversation

I hadn't heard from my old high school friend in over ten years, and then she called me out of the blue last night.

Academic Writing

While the economic collapse appeared to happen out of the blue, subsequent market analysis revealed years of hidden financial instability.

News/Media

The champion athlete announced her retirement out of the blue, just weeks before the international tournament was scheduled to begin.

Formal Speech

This prestigious award did not come out of the blue; it is the direct result of decades of tireless community service and dedication.

Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses the idiom correctly?

A. I painted my bedroom walls out of the blue because I wanted a peaceful, calming color to help me sleep.

B. The manager called an emergency meeting out of the blue, leaving the team with no time to prepare their presentations.

C. If you swim too far out of the blue, the ocean currents can become incredibly dangerous for inexperienced swimmers.

D. She studied for her examinations out of the blue every single day for six months until she finally graduated.