blue devils

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

Originally apparitions supposed to be seen by sufferers of delirium tremens.

Pronunciation

[edit]

Noun

[edit]

blue devils pl (plural only)

  1. (idiomatic) low spirits; depression
    • 1890, William Morris, News from Nowhere, in the journal The Commonweal. (First published in book form 1890.)
      "[…] the disease is either extinct, or exists in such a mild form that a short course of aperient medicine carries it off. It is sometimes called the Blue-devils now or the Mulleygrubs. Queer names, ain't they?"
  2. (idiomatic) depressants, especially the barbiturate amobarbital.

Synonyms

[edit]

Translations

[edit]