Re: Curse a blue streak.

Posted by Lewis on July 10, 2003

In Reply to: Re: Curse a blue streak. posted by Bookworm on July 09, 2003

: : Anyone? Origin? Thanks in advance.

: Merriam-Webster Online:

: A definition for blue:

: 7 a : PROFANE, INDECENT b : OFF-COLOR, RISQUé

:
: Main Entry: blue streak
: Function: noun
: Date: 1830
: 1 : something that moves very fast
: 2 : a constant stream of words

: Since blue can mean profane, the stream of words could be one epithet after another. This would result in "cursing a blue streak".

As "Blue Streak" was an expensive bomber-delivered (nuclear?) missile programme in the 50s-60s - to have one fall either on one's home or foot would be a catastrophe, as would paying for one out of one's pay if one went astray during a routine stock-audit. It would be no surprise if somebody then cursed a blue streak.