blue-pencil
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To use a line-item veto.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “blue-pencil” mean?
To use a line-item veto.
Is “blue-pencil” formal or informal?
blue-pencil is generally slang.