Also: Blue Blooded
Meaning of Idiom ‘Blue Blood’
The term blue blood refers to someone of aristocratic or noble birth. Generally used to mean someone who is a member of “high society.”
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Examples of Use
“Most American politicians are typical blue bloods, even the ones who claim humble origins.”
“Don’t let my poor clothes fool you,” said the old man. “I’m as blue-blooded as you are.”
Origin
Blue blood is an English translation of the Spanish sangre azul. This term was used in Spain to refer to aristocrats who were considered pure-blooded, or in other words, of unmixed Germanic ancestry who had not intermarried with invaders such as Moors. Compared to the Moors, who were dark-skinned, such people had skin fair enough that the blue of their veins showed readily through their skin. In those days, they probably did believe that their blood was “bluer” than other people and that this gave them distinction. In reality, of course, their veins only appeared bluer due to the lightness of their skin.
The expression entered English during the early 1800’s. 1 Kirkpatrick, Elizabeth M. The Wordsworth Dictionary of Idioms. Ware: Wordsworth, 1995.,2Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.,3Pare, May. Body Idioms and More: For Learners of English. United States?: Mayuree Pare, 2005.
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