black-and-blue

American  

[blak-uhn-bloo] / ˈblæk ənˈblu /

adjective

1. discolored, as by bruising; exhibiting ecchymosis.

   a black-and-blue mark on my knee.

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black-and-blue British  

adjective

1. (of the skin) discoloured, as from a bruise

2. feeling pain or soreness, as from a beating

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black and blue Idioms  

1. Badly bruised, as in That fall down the stairs left me black and blue all over. Even though multicolored bruises rarely include the color black, this term has been so used since about 1300.

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Etymology

Origin of black-and-blue

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50

Example Sentences

The singer re-emerged wearing a sparkly black-and-blue outfit complete with roller skates as he introduced will.i.am for their collaboration OMG - a song title which reflected the crowd's reaction.

From BBC • Feb. 11, 2024

Again, the black-and-blue color pairing is not the most pleasing to the eye, but actress Rose gets extra points here for matching her edgy hairstyle to her rainbow platform Crocs.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 13, 2020

Thanks to the long break, the black-and-blue Blue Jackets are nearly at full-strength again.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 28, 2020

In a crisp, black-and-blue flannel, a nest of light-brown hair and olive librarian glasses he could have passed as an adjunct at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop.

From New York Times • Jan. 2, 2019

A nasty black-and-blue swelled along his right cheek.

From "Shadowshaper" by Daniel José Older

Related Words

• ache
• bruise
• discomfort
• outrage
• pain
• suffering