ENGLISH
REFERENCE

blues

n. uncountable
B1 Intermediate US //ˈbɫuz// UK //blˈuːz// blues Archaic Informal Slang

n. a feeling of sadness or low spirits. It also refers to a style of music that started in the southern US, often about hard times and deep feelings.

n. a state of depression or melancholy; also, a genre of music originating in African-American communities, characterized by a specific chord progression and expressive, soulful lyrics.


SIMPLE

I always get the Sunday night blues before work.

CONTEXTUAL

After the long holiday ended, she struggled with a mild case of the winter blues.

COMPLEX

The guitarist's performance captured the raw essence of the blues, blending technical precision with a mournful tone that resonated through the crowded hall.

Synonyms
Usage

Always used in the plural form ('the blues') even when referring to a single mood or the musical genre.

Pitfall

He is playing a blue.He is playing the blues.The word is always plural when referring to the musical genre or a sad mood.

Idioms2 entries

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