- Unexpectedly; suddenly and without any warning or prior indication.
Explanation
Origin
- The phrase evokes the image of something suddenly appearing from the clear, empty blue sky, where nothing was expected to come from.
- The blue represents the empty, clear sky. Something emerging from it is therefore completely unforeseen.
- Usage dates back to the 19th century.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Outta nowhere
- Randomly / So random
- Just like that
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- Completely out of the fucking blue.
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal to semi-formal. Suitable for most everyday conversations and storytelling.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Very unlikely to be misunderstood. The context almost always makes the meaning of unexpectedness clear.
Examples
- I hadn't heard from him in years, then he called me out of the blue.
- The job offer came completely out of the blue.
- Out of the blue, she announced she was moving to Australia.
Dialogue
Maria: Guess what? My old college roommate just messaged me out of the blue!
David: Seriously? After all this time? What did she want?
Maria: Just wanted to catch up, apparently. It was really nice, but totally unexpected.
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Got an email out of the blue from a recruiter for my dream company! Fingers crossed! 🤞 #jobsearch #unexpected #opportunity
- Facebook Status: Just ran into my high school teacher out of the blue at the grocery store! Was great catching up.
Response Patterns
- Expressing surprise: Really? / Wow, that's unexpected! / No way!
- Asking for details: What happened? / Why?
- Sharing a similar experience: That happened to me once...
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After hearing something happened out of the blue:
- Asking for context: Was there any reason for it? / What led up to that?
- Asking about the reaction: How did you react? / What did you say?
- Seeking more details about the unexpected event/news.
Conversation Starter
- Yes, often used to introduce a surprising piece of news or anecdote. You won't believe what happened out of the blue yesterday...
Intonation
- Often said with a tone of surprise or slight disbelief.
- Stress typically falls on BLUE. It came out of the BLUE.
Generation Differences
- Widely used and understood by all generations. Younger speakers might also use randomly in similar contexts.
Regional Variations
- Common in all major English-speaking regions.