blue in the face

Idioms  

1. Exhausted from anger, strain, or other great effort. For example, You can argue until you're blue in the face, but I refuse to go. This expression alludes to the bluish skin color resulting from lack of oxygen, which presumably might result from talking until one was breathless. See also under talk one's arm off.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

blue in the face

"We were asking for nationalisation to be considered until we were blue in the face," Fletcher, who also represents south-west Wales, told BBC Radio Wales Drive.

From BBC ● Apr. 10, 2025

“Right now, you can empower your kids until you’re blue in the face about the internet,” Mr. Virani said in an interview.

From New York Times ● Apr. 9, 2024

"That is not a mistake that we're making at all. We're going to over-communicate again, again and again until we're blue in the face."

From Reuters ● Oct. 27, 2023

Women and people of all ages dissect each episode online, arguing about #TeamConrad and #TeamJeremiah until they're blue in the face.

From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2023

We did not believe in voodoo spirits, and informed each other of that fact till we were blue in the face.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver