To blue pencil

Posted by ESC on August 13, 2005

In Reply to: To blue pencil posted by bilha yzraeli on August 13, 2005

: I need to know the idiomatic meaning of the following expressions:
: Jeremiah
: to play hooky
: to blue pencil
: I thank you in advance

Jeremiah is from the Bible (see No. 2, Merriam-Webster):

Main Entry: Jer·e·mi·ah
Pronunciation: -'mI-&
Function: noun
Etymology: Late Latin Jeremias, from Greek Hieremias, from Hebrew YirmeyAh
1 : a major Hebrew prophet of the 6th and 7th centuries B.C.
2 : one who is pessimistic about the present and foresees a calamitous future
3 : a prophetic book of canonical Jewish and Christian Scripture -- see BIBLE table

"Blue pencil" is to edit or correct something. Editors traditionally used a blue pencil. I am not sure why. Maybe to stand out from the white paper/black ink.

• To blue pencil ESC 13/August/05
  • To play hookey Smokey Stover 14/August/05
    • To play hookey James Briggs 15/August/05
      • To blue-pencil Smokey Stover 17/August/05