183-out of blue

[matilda]

Hello all

What does the following sentence mean?

The credits came quite out of the blue.

Thanks In advance

Matilda

[nyggus]

The credits came unexpected (source: CALD). However, CALD gives that if somethings happens "out of the blue", it happens completely unexpected. Then, how should "quite out of the blue" be understood?

Best wishes,
Nyggus

[Doris]

I suppose, if you were watching a movie, and the film has abruptly ended, you could say that: "The credits came quite out of the blue".

Doris

[nyggus]

Originally Posted by Doris

I suppose, if you were watching a movie, and the film has abruptly ended, you could say that: "The credits came quite out of the blue".
Doris

Why "quite out of the blue," not just "out of the blue"? I still don't get the thing with the "quite" here.

Nyggus

[Doris]

Originally Posted by nyggus

Why "quite out of the blue," not just "out of the blue"? I still don't get the thing with the "quite" here.
Nyggus

Well, because "out of the blue" (in itself) doesn't mean completely suddenly. Thus, you can still use the word "quite" there as a modifier. --> It happened "quite out of the blue" = quite suddenly.

Doris :)

[nyggus]

Originally Posted by Doris

Well, because "out of the blue" (in itself) doesn't mean completely suddenly. Thus, you can still use the word "quite" there as a modifier. --> It happened "quite out of the blue" = quite suddenly.
Doris :)

Well, CALD gives that it means "completly unexpectedly." What for then?

Best,
Nyggus

[Tdol]

Extra oomph:
Absolutely, totally and utterly unexpectedly.

[nyggus]

Originally Posted by tdol

Extra oomph:
Absolutely, totally and utterly unexpectedly.

So, what is the meaning of "quite out of the blue" then? Does it make any sense?

Thanks Tdol!
Nyggus

[Doris]

Originally Posted by nyggus

The credits came unexpected (source: CALD). However, CALD gives that if somethings happens "out of the blue", it happens completely unexpected. Then, how should "quite out of the blue" be understood?
Best wishes,
Nyggus

I looked up this idiom on CALD now, since you’ve been referring to it… (Is this the page you mean? --> http://dictionary.cambridge.org/defi...lue*4+0&dict=I) Because if it is, according to the above reference, “if something happens out of the blue, it happens suddenly and you are not expecting it”. The definition does not mention "completely".

There is an example (given by CALD), which reads: “Then one day, completely out of the blue, I had a letter from her.” However, please note that the word ‘completely’ was added there as a modifier. The same way as ‘quite’ was added in this topic’s example. Both words were added for an emphasis, or as tdol was pointing it out, for an "extra oomph".

The meaning of "quite out of the blue" is “Absolutely, totally and utterly out of the blue”, or as tdol was saying: Absolutely, totally and utterly unexpectedly" then.

Kind Regards,
Doris :)

[nyggus]

Originally Posted by Doris

I looked up this idiom on CALD now, since you’ve been referring to it… (Is this the page you mean? --> http://dictionary.cambridge.org/defi...lue*4+0&dict=I) Because if it is, according to the above reference, “if something happens out of the blue, it happens suddenly and you are not expecting it”. The definition does not mention "completely".
There is an example (given by CALD), which reads: “Then one day, completely out of the blue, I had a letter from her.” However, please note that the word ‘completely’ was added there as a modifier. The same way as ‘quite’ was added in this topic’s example. Both words were added for an emphasis, or as tdol was pointing it out, for an "extra oomph".
The meaning of "quite out of the blue" is “Absolutely, totally and utterly out of the blue”, or as tdol was saying: Absolutely, totally and utterly unexpectedly" then.
Kind Regards,
Doris :)

I am not sure whether tdol was saying in relation to "out of the blue" or "quite out of the blue." But, indeed, the online CALD gives different meaning of the phrase than that of my CALD, which gives the meaning "if something happens out of the blue, it is completely unexpected." Hence my hesitation...

Best,
Nyggus