WordVale

out of the blue

unexpectedly

In Idioms & Sayings

In more detail

(idiom) suddenly and unexpectedly, without warning

Examples

• His old friend called him out of the blue after ten years of no contact.
• The company announced out of the blue that it was closing the office.

How to use out of the blue

This idiom describes something that happens suddenly and without any prior indication or preparation, often used to emphasize surprise. It is somewhat more informal and narrative in style than the neutral word 'suddenly,' and typically carries a sense of unexpectedness rather than mere temporal quickness. It is common in both spoken and written English, especially in storytelling and casual conversation.

Register: informal

Common phrases

• come out of the blue
• appeared out of the blue
• out of the blue, he announced
• right out of the blue
• came completely out of the blue

Synonyms

suddenly · unexpectedly · without warning · all of a sudden · like a bolt from the blue

A common mistake

Learners sometimes write 'out of the blues' (plural) or confuse it with similar expressions like 'out of nowhere' without recognizing that 'out of the blue' is a fixed idiom with a specific form.

Nearby in Idioms & Sayings

no strings attached, off the top of my head, on the same page, play it by ear, pull yourself together, rain check

Keep going

How to remember the words you read · Spaced repetition, explained