Meaning & use
I often feel blue
Last updated
UK/aɪ ˈɒfən fiːl bluː/
US/aɪ ˈɔːfən fiːl bluː/
Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
Used to say that you frequently feel sad or without energy.
Grammar: It is a complete sentence. 'Feel' is a linking verb here, so it is followed by the adjective 'blue', not an adverb.
Patterns
- feel blue
- I often feel blue
I often feel blue during the winter months when it gets dark early.
She said she often feels blue after watching sad movies.
I often feel blue on Sunday evenings, thinking about the workweek ahead.
Common combinations
- feel blue
- He's been feeling blue since his dog died.
- a bit blue
- I'm feeling a bit blue today, so I'll stay home.
- really blue
- She seemed really blue at the party last night.
Synonyms and how they differ
- sad
- The direct and neutral word for the feeling; 'feel blue' is more informal and slightly softer.
- down
- Also informal and means sad or depressed; it is very close to 'blue' and often used in the same way.
- depressed
- Much stronger and is also a medical term; 'blue' usually describes a milder, temporary sadness.
Opposites
Word family
- blue adjective
- In this idiom, it means sad or low in spirits.
Practice
What does 'I often feel blue' mean?
Choose one answer.
The idiom 'feel blue' means to feel sad or low. It has nothing to do with the color blue, coldness, confusion, or anger.
Make it your own
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