true blue

¹

noun

1. a nonfading blue dye or pigment.

2. a person who is true-blue.

3. (in the 17th century) the color adopted by the Covenanters in contradistinction to the royal red.

true-blue

²

[troo-bloo]

adjective

1. unwaveringly loyal or faithful; staunch; unchangingly true.

true-blue

adjective

1. unwaveringly or staunchly loyal, esp to a person, a cause, etc

noun

1. a staunch royalist or Conservative

Word History and Origins

Origin of true blue¹

First recorded in 1665–75

Origin of true blue²

First recorded in 1665–75; origin uncertain; perhaps associated with the Covenanters (Scottish Presbyterians) of the 17th century, whose flag, a white St. Andrew’s Cross on a blue field (still the national flag of Scotland), was in opposition to the red scarves of the Royalist cavalry

Idioms and Phrases

Loyal, faithful, as in You can count on her support; she's true blue. This expression alludes to the idea of blue being the color of constancy, but the exact allusion is disputed. One theory holds it alludes to the unchanging blue sky, another to the fastness of a blue dye that will not run. Blue has been the identifying color of various factions in history. In the mid-1600s the Scottish Covenanters, who pledged to uphold Presbyterianism, were called true blue (as opposed to red, the color of the royalists). In the 1800s the same term came to mean “staunchly Tory,” and in America, “politically sound.”

Example Sentences

Even as a true blue Australian, part of me wants to see them change, just to show they can improve.

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For many die-hard fans, it’s simply not enough to pay upward of a $1,000 for a night at Dodger Stadium, to fly the True Blue flag on your car and at your home, to dress your dog like a member of the starting lineup.

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Davis and Hershiser are a terrific pair on the Dodgers’ television broadcasts, but they did just 51 games together in 2023 and 60 last year, according to Eric Stephen of True Blue LA.

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Foley also directed three Madonna music videos in the 1980s - Papa Don't Preach, Live to Tell and True Blue.

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From 1985 to 1990, Foley directed music videos for Madge’s “Dress You Up” and “True Blue.”

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