LL-L "Idiomatica" 2002.10.27 (09) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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From: Alfred Brothers <alfredb at erols.com>
Subject: LL-L "Idiomatica" 2002.10.26 (09) [E]

>Ron wrote:
>
>The few times I have heard people use the phrase "to talk up a blue streak"
>(yes, Canadians, I believe) I interpreted it as denoting something like "to
>talk up a storm," i.e., 'to talk a lot and in a very animated manner'.
>Apparently I "over-interpreted" it.  Oops!  But I seem to remember that my
>over-interpretation did fit within the contexts in which I heard the phrase
>used.
>
Ed Alexander responded:

>I think "talk excitedly or quickly and at some length" would be a closer
>translation.  "Me an my wife went over to the Big Smoke (Trana) and all the
>way there she talked a blue streak about the antique shopping her and
>Emilia did the day before."
>
"Talking a blue streak" is quite common in the U.S., as far as I know.
-- At least it is in the Northeast. It's very common in New England. In
fact, in 1999 there was a movie called "Blue Streak", based on the
expression, and "Blue Streak 2" is in the planning stage; so it must be
known in Hollywood as well. True, I don't think I ever heard "talk UP a
blue streak," but I notice that in your example the "up" is also
missing. I find on the Internet that "cussing up a blue streak" is also
not uncommon.

Re the "black eye" vs. the "blue eye". I would speak of someone having a
"_black_ eye", but I'd very likely also say "His eye was all _black and
blue_." instead of "His eye was all black."

Alfred Brothers

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