What does ‘true blue’ mean?
To “true blue” means to staunchly loyal, especially in politics. Brewer's traces 'true blue' to the Scottish Covenanters, whose blue banners stood for staunch adherence; the phrase has been transferred to political and personal loyalty.
Origin
- Brewer's traces 'true blue' to the Scottish Covenanters, whose blue banners stood for staunch adherence; the phrase has been transferred to political and personal loyalty.
How to use it
- Common in party-political and sporting contexts.
- Example: He's a true-blue supporter of the team.
Source:
Last verified: 2026-07-18
- Definitions and origins are drawn from public-domain reference works, primarily Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898), with modern usage notes clearly marked.