Blue Murder

[WelshGirl20]

Just seen on The Bill someone was screaming Blue Murder where does that expression come from?

[novalis]

According to "Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable" it is a pun on the French exclamation "mor-bleu" which is actually "mort Dieu" - God's Death ( or, in archaic English, 'sdeath ).

[fredpuli47]

'Bleu' was once a French euphemism for God, hence 'sacre [with acute accent on E] bleu! ' as an oath.