boy in blue

noun

A policeman.

Similar
blue jobpolice officer
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Meanings

nounboy in blue (plural boys in blue)

plural boys in blue

  1. UKUSin pluralslangA policeman.
  2. USA member of the Union army during the American Civil War.
  3. UKdatedair force slangA member of the air force.

    Air force personnel used to distinguish airmen (blue jobs or boys in blue) from army personnel (brown jobs or boys in brown).

    2006, David W. Clark, Joe's Letters, page 38

    Synonyms: blue job

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA member of the air force.

Similar
blue job
Similar
police officer
Also see
blue jobbullcobblercopcopperfedflatfootjackjakelawmanmr plodold billpigplonkpolice officerrozzerslop

Origin

From their blue uniforms.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

boy in blue. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/boy%20in%20blue

MLA

“boy in blue.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/boy%20in%20blue. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “boy in blue,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/boy%20in%20blue.

Source: boy in blue on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.