true blue

¹

noun

1. a nonfading blue dye or pigment.
2. a person who is true-blue.
3. (in the 17th century) the color adopted by the Covenanters in contradistinction to the royal red.

true-blue

²

[ troo-bloo ]

adjective

1. unwaveringly loyal or faithful; staunch; unchangingly true.

true-blue

adjective

1. unwaveringly or staunchly loyal, esp to a person, a cause, etc

noun

1. a staunch royalist or Conservative

Word History and Origins

Origin of true blue¹

First recorded in 1665–75

Origin of true blue²

First recorded in 1665–75; origin uncertain; perhaps associated with the Covenanters (Scottish Presbyterians) of the 17th century, whose flag, a white St. Andrew’s Cross on a blue field (still the national flag of Scotland), was in opposition to the red scarves of the Royalist cavalry

Idioms and Phrases

Loyal, faithful, as in You can count on her support; she's true blue . This expression alludes to the idea of blue being the color of constancy, but the exact allusion is disputed. One theory holds it alludes to the unchanging blue sky, another to the fastness of a blue dye that will not run. Blue has been the identifying color of various factions in history. In the mid-1600s the Scottish Covenanters, who pledged to uphold Presbyterianism, were called true blue (as opposed to red , the color of the royalists). In the 1800s the same term came to mean “staunchly Tory,” and in America, “politically sound.”

Example Sentences

And it wasn’t just relief from true-blue Dodger fans who are looking to Ohtani to bring World Series glory to the team they love.

From Los Angeles Times

Both Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito are true-blue authoritarian nuts who cannot wait to sign off on a chance to help Trump become a fascist dictator.

From Salon

Finally, I turned to Mastodon, the first of the true-blue Twitter competitors to arise after Musk took the reins and broke out the wrecking ball last year.

From Los Angeles Times

Harrison was a true-blue jazz musician, and Adjuah — who was born, and first introduced to the listening public as, Christian Scott — seemed destined to become one, too.

From New York Times

This is a true-blue house shoe: deeply uncomfortable and designed for short-distance travel.

From Los Angeles Times