avere il sangue blu
/aˈve.re il ˈsaŋ.ɡwe blu/To be of noble or aristocratic birth; to belong to the nobility.
La famiglia ha sempre avuto il sangue blu.
The family has always had blue blood.
Essere nato con il sangue blu significa appartenere a una stirpe nobile.
Being born with blue blood means belonging to a noble lineage.
This idiom refers to the historical belief that aristocrats had blue-colored veins due to their pale skin, which was a sign of nobility.
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Historical Context
The phrase reflects the social stratification of European societies, where nobility was often associated with fair skin and visible blue veins.
📖Word Origin
The phrase originates from the medieval belief that the veins of aristocrats appeared blue under their pale skin, distinguishing them from the working class.
📝Usage Notes
This expression is used to describe someone's noble or aristocratic heritage. It is more common in formal or historical contexts.