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Synonyms

blue devils

American  

plural noun

  1. low spirits; depression.

  2. delirium tremens.


blue devils British  

plural noun

  1. a fit of depression or melancholy

  2. an attack of delirium tremens

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of blue devils

First recorded in 1780–90


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Their group has organised workshops, where youngsters can come to learn about blue devils and other aspects of Carnival, including wire-bending to make costumes.

From BBC ● Feb. 11, 2024

"The only place in Trinidad and Tobago, and by extension the world, where you can find blue devils come Carnival Monday, is Paramin," Curdell says.

From BBC ● Feb. 11, 2024

"I really feel the initiatives that we're taking now, to bring the community together, will increase the traffic we have with blue devils."

From BBC ● Feb. 11, 2024

In each of the blurbs below, we’ve given our take on what would happen if, say, a group of blue devils ran across some mountain hawks in a dark alley.

From Slate ● Mar. 14, 2012

Yellow fever and scurvy had taken their departure, and the only evil which remained with us was the blue devils, in consequence of the monotony so prevalent in a long cruise.

From A Sailor of King George by A. Beckford Bevan

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