blue murders
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Probably from desperate or alarming cries. A term used more to describe cries of terror or alarm than for any other purpose. As, "I heard her calling BLUE MURDERS."—MORBLEU.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “blue murders” mean?
Probably from desperate or alarming cries. A term used more to describe cries of terror or alarm than for any other purpose. As, "I heard her calling BLUE MURDERS."—MORBLEU.
Is “blue murders” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.