We might say that someone who is exceptionally chatty can "talk a blue streak." What is the origin and meaning of this phrase? Is it generally insulting, or a nice way of saying someone is a chatterbox?
asked May 27, 2011 at 19:22
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It seems to me that this is in reference to turning blue at the lack of oxygen from speaking too much to take a breath.– MuseMay 30, 2011 at 18:58
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3 Answers
According to The Word Detective in all likelihood, the term did arise by analogy to the speed and force of a bolt of lightning, especially in “talk a blue streak,” meaning to speak rapidly and excitedly. The “blue” in “curse a blue streak” probably also invokes “blue” in the sense of “obscene.” So it it is not really insulting when you say that somebody talks a blue streak, it is just an informal way of saying that he/she talks very fast and endlessly and very often aimlessly.
To curse/swear a blue streak means to speak rapidly, too, but using swear/curse words. Cursing/swearing a blue streak is usually an outburst-- a retort or angry reaction, and short-lived. However, it can also mean using a lot of swear words repeatedly over a period of time: My teenager has been cursing a blue streak during the past month means that he/she has been using a lot of swear words, and often.
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The negativity in 'to curse a blue streak' comes from 'curse', not 'blue'. A 'blue streak' can be used productively in many non-obscene contexts.– MitchMay 27, 2011 at 21:15
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@Mitch: I have never observed that. In my experience, "a blue streak" always refers to profanity; and similarly "turn the air blue", or in the rather dated euphemism "blue movie".– MarcinMay 30, 2011 at 21:53
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@Marcin: a simple on-line look-up contradicts you: "blue streak". None of the examples there involve profanity.– MitchMay 31, 2011 at 13:48
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@Mitch: This source does not appear to be a comprehensive survey of English usage.– MarcinMay 31, 2011 at 16:50
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@Marcin: that source (dubitable as it is from the internet) mentions McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs and Cambridge Idioms Dictionary as sources. I don't know if they're comprehensive. Can you come up with any references where 'blue streak' implies profanity or obscenity, however light, when profanity or obscenity is not already a matter? (e.g. "talks a blue streak" with the implication of talking "blue").– MitchMay 31, 2011 at 18:41
Talking or cursing a blue streak is when somebody is so wound up in something they're talking and talking and talking or cussing or cussing or cussing so hard they run clear out of breath and keep on talking and talking and talking or cussing and cussing and -- until their face starts turning blue from lack of oxygen and they just can't seem to stop until they see stars from lack of oxygen and maybe even pass clear out on the ground. Now, that's a 'blue streak'.
Tony Pastor's vaudeville theater used to give actors warnings in blue envelopes when their acts included language he found objectionable. That's where we get the phrase "blue language". Is "blue streak" just an extension of that idea?
