scream blue murder

scream blue murder

1. To scream or shout very loudly. Enid screamed blue murder when she noticed the snake in the rocks next to her. Please stop screaming blue murder across the house. If you want to talk, go to the same room.
2. To forcefully complain, especially loudly and/or in a public manner. When they refused to give me a refund, I screamed blue murder until the manager came out. Our customers will scream blue murder if we raise the prices again.
See also: blue, murder, scream
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

scream blue murder

BRITISH, INFORMAL or

scream bloody murder

AMERICAN, INFORMAL
1. If someone screams blue murder, they complain a lot about something. Unions accept free accommodation and travel, yet they would scream blue murder if the same was received by politicians. `If the FBI was doing this, people would be screaming bloody murder,' says Richard Taylor, a security and privacy expert.
2. If someone screams blue murder, they scream and shout very loudly. She screamed blue murder as he came at her. She ran from the building, screaming bloody murder. Note: The expression `blue murder' is perhaps derived from the French oath `morbleu', which is a variation of `mort Dieu'. `Bleu' or blue is used in French as a euphemism for `Dieu' or God, so `morbleu' literally means `blue death'.
See also: blue, murder, scream
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

scream (or yell) blue murder

make an extravagant and noisy protest. informal
A North American variant of this phrase is scream bloody murder .
1995 Iain Banks Whit I was now left with the ticklish problem of how to let my great-aunt know there was somebody there in the room with her without…causing her to scream blue murder.
See also: blue, murder, scream
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

scream blue ˈmurder

(British English) (American English scream bloody ˈmurder) (informal) shout, scream, etc. very loudly and for a long time; make a lot of noise or fuss because you disagree very strongly with something: Jill will scream blue murder if Ann gets promoted and she doesn’t.
See also: blue, murder, scream
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

scream bloody/blue murder, to

To shout loudly in pain, fear, or anger. The second term appears to have originated as a play on the French expletive morbleu (mort bleu translates as “blue murder”). The Hotten Dictionary of Slang (1859) defined it as a desperate or alarming cry. The term was used by Dion Boucicault about 1874: “They were standing by and trying to screech blue murder” (quoted in M. R. Booth, English Plays of the Nineteenth Century; cited by OED). It is heard less often, at least in America, than the more graphic bloody murder, dating from the first half of the 1900s. For example, “The one-year-old who has yelled bloody murder during his physical . . .” (B. Spock, Problems of Parents, 1962).
See also: bloody, blue, scream
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • out of a clear (blue) sky
  • out of the blue
  • blue screen of death
  • BSOD
  • curse a blue streak
  • have a blue fit
  • cuss
  • cuss a blue streak
  • cussed
  • blue boys
References in periodicals archive
Scream Blue Murder have steadily been building a local reputation.
A hardcore double bill; ALAN POOLE
Single mum Sandra, who also has a daughter aged six and one aged three, added: "Chloe likes to play in her den and if I put Edward in, she will scream blue murder and take his toys."
Twin's in front by an Ed
Trainer Carroll has found a good opportunity for his 105-rated speedster in tomorrow's opener, when his biggest threat should come from Jim Bolger's lightly-raced and potentially smart three-year-old FLIGHT RISK, fourth to Scream Blue Murder in the Group 3 Phoenix Sprint Stakes on his seasonal debut at the Curragh but untried over a sharp five furlongs.
PRINCE'S RAID ON STADIUM; SUNDAY BEST Caspian capable of success GOOD OPPORTUNITY Tony Carroll-trained Caspian Prince
There's a little thing called Midday and, my God, if I wasn't depressed before, by the end of the programme I wanted to scream blue murder.
Beware the Midday glare; TALKSHOW CASTS SHADOW ON DAYTIME TV
It also stinks of hypocrisy and double standards because these are the same supporters who feel compelled to yell and scream abuse at these players and would then scream blue murder if any action was taken against them.
Football: Police action by fans is just not on
But it doesn't appeal as a betting opportunity, with Maarek coming into the race on a disappointing run behind Scream Blue Murder on this track and Tom Hogan's charge having his first outing since finishing eighth behind Slade Power at Royal Ascot in June.
Forever a threat for Ballydoyle
Neither did we scream blue murder when O'Connnor came back.
I WILL NOT GIVE IN TO FANS' FURY; SOCCER: WORTHY DEFIANT OVER BRUCE'S SWITCH
On a rare ride for Tommy Stack, Pat Smullen landed the Group 3 Phoenix Sprint Stakes on 20/1 shot Scream Blue Murder.
Dick shines as Aidan wins Phoenix No.13; ALL THE NEWS FROM THE CURRAGH; WHITTINGTON LANDS THE PRIZE FOR BALLYDOYLE
Cameron's Tories would scream blue murder about red tape, but to me that's what real family values are about.
Cam shows his colours
Meanwhile, Andy Slattery won the listed Cork Stakes in Mallow, the Billy Lee-ridden 12/1 shot beating Scream Blue Murder and Remember You to earn a possible trip to Royal Ascot.
THREE WINS FOR ON-FORM WILLIE; IRISH RACING
Although he disappointed in his only subsequent outing, behind Slade Power at Ascot, Declan McDonogh's mount is a rock-solid performer, handles testing conditions and won on his seasonal debut last year, when beating one of today's rivals Scream Blue Murder in a listed event at Naas.
Maarek to mop up in Handicap
Tommy Stack is doubledhanded, running the hat-trick seeking Cape Of Approval and Scream Blue Murder.
BALMONT SURE TO IMPROVE