blue-book (english) - meaning, definition, translation, pronunciation

Part of Speech

Noun

Phonetic Transcription

/ˈbluː bʊk/

Meaning and Usage

The term "blue-book" has a few distinct meanings depending on the context:

1. In Academia or Education: A blue-book typically refers to a booklet used for writing essays or exam answers, often in academic settings, especially in the United States.
2. In Government and Politics: It can denote an official report or directory that outlines policies, procedures, or recommendations.
3. General Association: The term may also refer to compiled lists or reference books, particularly those bound in blue covers.

The frequency of use for "blue-book" varies. In educational contexts, it enjoys regular usage, particularly in conversations relating to exams or assessments, while its use in governmental discussions is more specialized.

Example Sentences

• The professor handed out a blue-book for the final exam.
  Профессор раздал бланки для финального экзамена.

• Make sure to write your answers in the blue-book provided.
  Убедитесь, что вы пишете свои ответы в предоставленном бланке.

• The policy recommendations were outlined in a comprehensive blue-book.
  Рекомендации по политике были изложены в обширном синем отчете.

Idiomatic Expressions

While "blue-book" is not particularly prominent in idiomatic expressions, certain phrases and expressions can relate to its connotations or contexts:

• Blue Blood: Refers to aristocratic or noble lineage.
  He comes from a family of blue bloods, thus he was raised with privilege.
  Он происходит из семьи аристократов, поэтому его воспитывали с привилегиями.

• Feeling Blue: To feel sad or depressed.
  After hearing the news, she couldn’t shake off her feeling blue.
  После того как она услышала новости, она не могла избавиться от грусти.

• Blue Sky Thinking: Creative thinking that is not constrained by current norms or limits.
  We need to engage in blue-sky thinking to innovate.
  Нам нужно заняться креативным мышлением, чтобы создать что-то новое.

Etymology

The term "blue-book" likely originated in the mid-19th century, where the blue color symbolically represented the formal or official nature of documents bound in blue covers. The use in academia, especially for exam booklets, may have emerged as schools adopted the practice of using blue covers for simplicity and uniformity.

Synonyms and Antonyms

• Synonyms:
• Exam booklet (in academic contexts)

• Directory (in governmental contexts)

• Antonyms:

• Red-book (in some contexts); although "red-book" is less commonly referenced and has specific meanings relating to different sectors.

This comprehensive overview provides a solid understanding of the term "blue-book."