True blue

Idiomatic Phrase
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

An idiom describing someone who is loyal, faithful, and unwavering in allegiance, originally referring to a dye that did not fade, symbolizing steadfastness and genuine character.

Detailed Definition
True blue means loyal, faithful, steadfast, and sincere. In poetry, the idiom can describe friends, lovers, political supporters, patriots, or characters whose constancy is their defining virtue. The colour blue may suggest depth, trust, sky, sea, or melancholy, adding symbolic resonance. A poet may use it sincerely for devotion, or ironically when loyalty becomes blind partisanship. The phrase is useful for exploring allegiance, identity, reliability, and the difference between faithfulness and unthinking attachment.
Example
Example in poetry:
A patriotic poem might call the old sailor true blue, faithful through storm and mutiny; In a friendship poem, true blue loyalty matters more than polished words; The phrase means loyal and dependable; A poet can use it for constancy.
Additional Notes
True blue means loyal, faithful, genuine, or steadfast. The colour blue can suggest constancy, depth, and traditional political or cultural associations depending on context. In poetry, it suits friendship, patriotism, love, sailors, uniforms, and moral reliability. Students should notice that colour terms can carry historical and symbolic weight beyond literal hue. The phrase pairs well with flags, eyes, seas, ribbons, and the testing of loyalty under strain.
Also Known As
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