blue blood - Of high or noble birth. The term is a translation of the Spanish sangre azul, which was applied to Spain’s pure-blooded aristocrats, meaning those whose ancestors had not intermarried with the Moors. Consequently, they were fairly light-skinned and their veins showed bluer through the skin than those in Spaniards of mixed blood. The expression was used in England from the early nineteenth century and was, like so many, satirized by W. S. Gilbert (Iolanthe, 1882, where Lord Tolloller is complaining that the fair maid Phyllis is not impressed by his title): “Blue blood! blue blood! When virtuous love is sought thy power is naught, though dating from the Flood, blue blood!”
Related and Similar Terms
- Silver-spooned: Someone born into wealth and privilege.
- High-born: Another way to describe someone of noble birth.
- Noblesse oblige: Meaning the obligation of the nobility to act nobly.
- Aristocratic lineage: Referring to a family with a history of nobility.
- Pedigreed: Having an ancestry or lineage that is distinguished or reputable.
Synonyms
- Noble
- Aristocratic
- Highborn
Antonyms
- Commoner
- Plebeian
- Lower-class
Humor-Filled Quotes
- Mark Twain: “The offspring of riches smiles upon us, but those blue veins must come free with character.”
Proverbs and References
- French Proverb: “Noblesse oblige,” or “Nobility obliges,” underscores the duties the privileged have to act honorably.
- W. S. Gilbert’s ‘Iolanthe’: “When virtuous love is sought, thy power is naught, though dating from the Flood, blue blood!”
Suggested Literature
- Books: “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen – explores themes of social class and marriage.
- Songs: “Royals” by Lorde – questions norms around blue bloods and elite status.
- Movies: “The King’s Speech” – about a blue-blood struggling with public speaking.
- Poetry: “The Lady of Shalott” by Alfred Lord Tennyson – paints a picture of medieval nobility.
- Classic Reference: “Gulliver’s Travels” by Jonathan Swift – includes satire on nobles and their sense of superiority.
Farewell thought: May your veins run blue with noble deeds and golden wisdom, whether you inherited titles or earned life’s laurels through grit and grace.
