ENGLISH
REFERENCE

turn the air blue

idiom
Meaning

To speak a stream of bad language; to curse and swear.


Examples
SIMPLE

He turned the air blue when he dropped his phone.

CONTEXTUAL

When the car broke down in the middle of the highway, the driver turned the air blue with his frustration.

COMPLEX

Upon discovering that his luggage had been lost by the airline, the traveler turned the air blue, shocking the nearby passengers with his choice of words.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    air one's dirty laundry in public

    To reveal one's sordid secrets to the public.

  2. 02

    air one's dirty linen in public

    Synonym of air one's dirty laundry in public.

  3. 03

    air out

    To expose to air; to leave open or spread out, as to allow odor or moisture to dissipate.

  4. 04

    air rage

    Aggressive, disruptive behaviour on an aircraft.

  5. 05

    air sandwich

    A strategy that has high-level direction and low-level operations, but little in the middle.

  6. 06

    blow hot air

    To engage in empty or exaggerated talk that lacks substance, credibility, or truth; to bluster.

  7. 07

    blue chamber

    A forbidden room.

  8. 08

    blue devils

    Low spirits; depression.

Last updated April 17, 2026