blue
→
novice
1 realization
Related shifts
ID | Meaning 1 | Direction | Meaning 2 |
ACCEPTED Realization 1 | ||
---|---|---|
Type | Derivation | |
Language | French | |
Lexeme | bleu | |
Meaning 1 | blue | Le ciel est bleu The sky is blue. |
Direction | → | |
Meaning 2 | rookie, new recruit; novice | Ce soldat est un vrai bleu. Être encore un bleu dans le métier de bistrot. This soldier is a real rookie. To still be a novice in the bistro trade |
Reference | CNRTL | |
Comment | by allusion to the blue smock of recruits coming from the countryside (cf. Larch. 1880), or the first uniforms of the infantry under the Republic (cf. Larch. Suppl. 1880). Also bleu-bit(t)e '2nd grade private, new recruit'. Attested in Rob. Suppl. 1970 |
Also Swedish blåbär 'blueberry', (colloquial) 'an inexperienced, unsuccessful or incompetent person; beginner, newbie' (blå 'blue' + bär 'berry')