OT: Once in a Blue Moon

The term "blue moon" has been in use for about 400 years. The reference originally was to moons that seemed to be the colour "blue", as may result from fires or volcanoes, and came to mean occurrences that were very rare. This usage of the term to refer to more than one full moon in a month, or more than the usual number per year, is relatively recent and essentially erroneous. However, it has come into general usage since the 1940's.

I loathe expressions that make no literal sense: two full moons are not "a blue moon". Which one is blue? The first or the second? If both, why are two moons called a blue moon when they are neither blue nor one?

It's a corruption of the language and anyone who misuses the term in that way should be incarcerated by the language Police or beaten within an inch of their life. And by "beaten within an inch of their life" I mean given large amounts of money and candy. makes as much sense as using "blue moon" to refer to moons that aren't blue or even single in number :rolleyes:
 
But that isn't how language works. "Corruption' is also a word for change. Slang is a corruption that later sometimes becomes legitimized.


munk
 
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