bleed his savings blue

[KLPNO]

Hello everyone
I'd like to ask about the meaning of the phrase "bleed one's savings blue."

But escape was what he wanted. The urge was sudden and irresistible. And later, whan he examined what was possible, Jopale discovered only one solution that gave him any confidence.
If he sold his parents' land to his surviving neighbors and relatives, and if he bled his savings blue... then he could abandon the only home he had ever known, and forsake the sun, as well as abandoning all of those foolish little scramblers who couldn't see past their little while...

I think there is the expression "bleed one's savings white" meaning "spend all one's money" but it doesn't seem to fit in the context.

 

[susiedqq]

I have heard the expression "bleeding one's savings dry," but never "blue."
although, when blood gets drained, it is red, then gets dark.

There is a term, "Blue Blood" to describe the wealthy or those of nobility.

 

[BobK]

I have heard the expression "bleeding one's savings dry," but never "blue."
although, when blood gets drained, it is red, then gets dark.

There is a term, "Blue Blood" to describe the wealthy or those of nobility.

Same here ('bleed dry'); I think I may have come across 'bleed white', but not blue.

Another blue image to do with blood is when you are very cold, and blood has given up the struggle to keep the skin warm, and retreated further inside the body, to protect the vital organs. You are then said to be 'blue with cold'.

b

 

[riverkid]

Same here, "bleed sth dry". If a color were to be chosen, one would think that it should be 'red', but in idioms, sometimes there no accounting for sense.

 

[Anglika]

And this particular author creates and uses his own idioms and language in his stories.