Avoir une peur bleue is a very familiar French idiom which has an uncertain origin but could be linked somehow to Chinese medicine šÆ !
This one is a very popular French expression ! It adds a bit of color to our emotion š Now what do you think is the signification of this popular French expression in English: letās have a look at the picture :
Some happy blue monster š¾
He is scary, don’t you think
Two French words :
āavoirā = to have
āune peur bleueā = a blue fear ?!?
It literaly means āto have a blue fearā ?!?
Avoir une peur bleue origin
āAvoir une peur bleueā is of uncertain origin and therefore has several interpretations.
A first definition comes from the popular belief that being scared turns your skin blue. This has probably a medical explanation that when one is subject to a very intense emotion such as fear, a high level of non oxygenated hemoglobin is produced in the skin capillaries, also known as cyanose. š©āāļø
In 1996, in England, a cholera epidemic decimated the population. People suffered heavily from diarrhea which induced the cyanose state. The fear of cholera took the name of “blue fear”
When one is subject to fear, blood leaves our face and we look pale. Our complexion turns pale and cold, which is associated with the blue colour.
One last explanation could be that the French ancestors; the Gauls would cover themselves in blue to frighten their enemies, the Romans āļø
The origin of this expression has nonetheless never been verified. However Chinese medicine could well bring us a valid explanation.
In the 5 elements theory, used in traditional Chinese medicine, every meridian regulates an emotion and a mental states which is associated to a colour, a season, a taste, etc.
The blue colour is the colour of the water element et is thus associated to the bladder and kidney meridians. And the kidney meridian is the one that regulates fear, therefore to “have a blue fear” makes sense. šØš³
Source : acupression
Avoir une peur bleue : French definition
Violente peur, trĆØs grande frayeur. Emotion forte qui accompagne la prise de conscience d’un grand danger, d’une menace importante. L’expression avoir une peur bleue signifie le fait de craindre Ć©normĆ©ment quelque chose.
Violent fear, very great fear. Strong emotion that accompanies the awareness of a great danger, a significant threat. The expression to be scared to death means to fear something very much.
The internaute
Avoir une peur bleue French examples
Elle est entrĆ©e prĆ©cipitamment dans ma chambre ! J’ai eu une peur bleue !
She rushed into my room! I was scared to death!
Ce film Ć©tait vraiment effrayant ! J’ai eu une peur bleue !
This movie was really scary! I was scared to death!
Jāai une peur bleue des araignĆ©es !
I’m terrified of spiders !
Avoir une peur bleue Other French expression
A synonym for this very common French expression is āavoir la peur au ventreā. I means to be scared to your stomach !
avoir la peur au ventre !
To have fear in your stomach
Meaning: To have fear in the stomach refers to the unpleasant feeling of stomach ache that we sometimes feel when we are afraid of something. The expression symbolizes a strong apprehension, since it is felt even physically.
Avoir une peur bleue Translation in English
I think we could easily translate this French expression in English by :
To be scared to death
avoir une peur bleue
VoilĆ , this was todayāsĀ French idiom in English, I hope you liked it.Ā Click here to find out about the challenge of 50 French idioms in English.
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