Definition

Adjective: - Discolored by coagulation of blood beneath the skin: Describes skin that has turned a dark purplish or bluish color due to an injury that caused bleeding under the surface, but without breaking the skin. This is the typical appearance of a bruise or contusion.

Usage

The adjective "black-and-blue" is used to describe the specific discoloration of a bruise. It typically follows a linking verb like "be," "become," or "look." It can be used before a noun (attributively) or after a linking verb (predicatively).

Examples

• Predicative use (after a linking verb):
  • Her arm was black-and-blue after she bumped into the table.
  • The boxer's face looked black-and-blue following the match.
• Attributive use (before a noun):
  • He showed me a black-and-blue bruise on his shin.
  • She had a large, black-and-blue mark on her thigh.

Advanced Usage

• "to be black and blue": This is the most common idiomatic phrase, meaning to be covered in bruises.
  • After the fall down the stairs, he was black and blue all over.
• "to beat someone black and blue": An idiom meaning to beat someone severely, causing many bruises.
  • The old tale warned that the monster would beat you black and blue if it caught you.

Variants and Related Words

• Bruised (adj): Injured, appearing discolored. (A more general synonym).
  • The bruised apple was still edible.
• Contused (adj): Medically formal term for bruised.
  • The patient suffered a contused kidney.
• Livid (adj): Can describe a dark bluish color, especially of a bruise, or extreme anger.
  • A livid bruise had formed on her cheek.

Synonyms

• Bruised: Having a bruise or bruises.
• Discolored: Changed to an abnormal color.
• Livid (in the context of color): Of a dark, bluish-gray color.

Related Phrases

• Black eye: A specific bruise and swelling around the eye.
  • The fight gave him a black eye.
• Beat to a pulp: An idiom meaning to beat someone very badly (more severe than "black and blue").
  • The thugs threatened to beat him to a pulp.

Related Idioms

• Black and blue: As an idiom, it emphasizes being badly bruised.
  • I was tossed around in the raft and came out black and blue.
• Black-and-white: A different, common idiom meaning clear and unambiguous, or relating to monochrome. Do not confuse with "black-and-blue."
  • The rules are black-and-white; there is no room for interpretation.

Adjective

1. discolored by coagulation of blood beneath the skin
   • beaten black and blue
   • livid bruises