Definition
Exhausted from effort, especially from talking, arguing, or trying to convince someone of something without success. Can also literally refer to a bluish complexion from lack of oxygen.
Etymology
This phrase comes from the medical observation that people turn blue (cyanotic) when they're not getting enough oxygen, whether from holding their breath, choking, or extreme exertion. The metaphorical use developed to describe futile efforts that leave someone as exhausted as if they'd been deprived of air.
Kelly Says
The phrase brilliantly captures the futility of certain arguments - you can talk until you literally run out of breath and turn blue, but some people still won't listen. It's also darkly humorous because it suggests that trying to convince stubborn people is literally suffocating, which anyone who's had a pointless argument can relate to.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
ቢራቢራ ሆን
birabira hon
ARالعربية
أزرق من التعب
ʾazraq min al-taʿab
BNবাংলা
নীল হয়ে যাওয়া
nil hoye yaw
CACatalà
esdevenir blau
ezdeveni blaw
CSČeština
zmodrat
zmoɟrat
DADansk
blive blå
blive blɔˀ
DEDeutsch
blau anlaufen
blaʊ̯ anˈlaʊ̯fən
ELΕλληνικά
γίνετε μπλε
ɣínete ble
ESEspañol
azul de tanto hablar
aθul de tanta hablar
FAفارسی
آبی شدن
ɑbi šodan
FISuomi
siniseksi
siniseksi
FRFrançais
bleu de fatigue
blø də fətiɡ
GUGU
નીલો થવું
nīlo thavu
HEעברית
הפך לכחול
hafakh lakaḥol
HIहिन्दी
नीला हो जाना
nīlā ho jānā
HUMagyar
elkékül
elkeːkyl
IDBahasa Indonesia
biru karena lelah
biru karna ləlah
IGIG
aghara akwụ
aɣara akwu
ITItaliano
diventare blu
diventare blu
KKKK
көкке айналу
kökke ainalu
KMKM
ក្លាយជាខៀវ
klaa cie khiəv
MSBahasa Melayu
biru kerana keletihan
biru kərana kələtihan
MYမြန်မာ
အပြာရောင် ဖြစ်သွား
a pya yaung pyi thwa
NLNederlands
blauw aanlopen
blauw anˈloːpən
PAPA
ਨੀਲਾ ਹੋ ਜਾਣਾ
nīlā ho jāṇā
PLPolski
zmęczenie
zmɛnt͡ʂɛɲe
PTPortuguês
ficar azul
fika ɐˈzul
RORomână
a deveni albastru
a devɛni albastru
RUРусский
закраснеть
zakrasnetʹ
SVSvenska
bli blå
bli bloː
SWKiswahili
kuwa samawati
kuwa samawati
TAதமிழ்
நீலமாக மாறு
nīlamāka māṟu
TEతెలుగు
నీలంగా మారడం
nīlamgā māraḍam
TLTL
maging bughaw
maging bughaw
TRTürkçe
maviye dönüşmek
maviye dönüşmek
UKУкраїнська
став синім
stav synim
URاردو
نیلا ہو جانا
nīlā ho jānā
VITiếng Việt
xanh xao
sanh sao