off-colour

off-colour

Rude or vulgar; likely to offend others, especially due to being sexually explicit or suggestive. Primarily heard in UK, Canada. Every Christmas, my uncle has a bit too much to drink and starts telling off-colour jokes in front of the kids and grandparents. A: "What did you think of the awards ceremony last night?" B: "I found the presenter's jokes a bit too off-colour for my taste."
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

off ˈcolour

(informal)
1 (British English) looking or feeling ill: I’m feeling a bit off colour this morning.
2 (especially American English) an off-colour joke is one that people think is rude, usually because it is about sex: They describe their humor as suitable for the family, with nothing off-color.
See also: colour, off
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • off colour
  • off-color
  • off color
  • be off-color
  • be near the knuckle
  • near the knuckle
  • have you heard
  • Have you heard?
  • pecker slap
  • suggestive
References in periodicals archive
Despite its off-colour content, South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut has been warmly received by critics in America and has taken pounds 32million at the box office.
YOU might be forgiven for thinking this chap is a little off-colour.
The mother bird doesn't seem to mind that one of her offspring is a bit off-colour - she is feeding it just the same as her two black chicks.
NORTHAMPTON made it four straight wins with an easy defeat of off-colour London Irish at Sunbury.
Nottingham yesterday saw early withdrawals from the Betfred Eclipse heats with Dalcash Scolari (9.50am) as expected pulled out off-colour. He was replaced in trap three in heat two by Mill Giovanni.
The off-colour Minstermen never looked capable of taking the points and teenager Richard Cresswell's strike came too late.
Mason out for Wallis MARK WALLIS yesterday reported his Betfair Trainers' Championship runner Rockburst Mason to be off-colour. He is set to be replaced by Aero Bolt (7.40, T5).
POWERFUL Paul Seevers bagged 1-8 as off-colour Sligo survived a spirited Louth challenge in a highly competitive Division 3 game at Markievicz Park yesterday.
He added: "We made it difficult for ourselves and four or five players were definitely off-colour."
Draper was forced to withdraw two intended runners off-colour at Romford on Monday, but yesterday reported his Monmore team of Farley Blitz and Farley Totti to be in the clear at the moment.
He seemed a bit off-colour after them - not that he's got much colour.
Champion trainer Mark Wallis's only entry in the competition, Eye Eye Pickle is one of a number of Imperial Kennels inmates to be off-colour at present, although Prestige favourite Kinda Easy is reported clear of the bug so far.
PAT Sullivan's 60th minute strike put Pete Mahon's side on course for a hard-fought win over the off-colour Blues at Belfield Park.
KING LEE, as short as 6-4 for the Coral Puppy Cup (betting, page 90) following two explosive winning performances at Romford, was yesterday withdrawn from the competition off-colour, writes Richard Birch.
OFF-colour Kilkenny showed signs that they are still willing to fight for a place in the Premier Division with a better display against St Francis on Wednesday - but they must continue in the same vein, says manager Alfie Hale.