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')