a dash of blue

USAGE SUMMARY

"a dash of blue" is a grammatically correct phrase and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to describe a small amount or touch of a particular color. For example: - The artist added a dash of blue to the painting, making it come to life. - The room was decorated in neutral tones, with just a dash of blue in the curtains. - She mixed a dash of blue food coloring into the frosting, giving it a beautiful hue. - In the sunset sky, there was a dash of blue peeking through the clouds.

✓ Grammatically correct

Fashion

Arts

Food & Drink

Description

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Three colors proved to be favorites: chartreuse, followed by an almost fluorescent orange, and a dash of blue, particularly in shoes and bags.

The New York Times

"I haven't done chintz in a long time, but the colors were divine — raspberry, mauve and a dash of blue," Ms. Moss said.

The New York Times - Arts

This innovation, the hotel said, is made with a "dash of blue Curacao to give it a blue silver hue" in honor of the blue livery of the new train, and is served in a silver shaker.

The New York Times - Travel

This rust-brown portfolio with a gold Mets logo, gold clip and nary a dash of blue or orange has, over the decades, smoothed out mushed junior high homework, held my résumé during job interviews and housed book chapters that awaited editing.

The New York Times - Sports

If you don't have any on hand, you can substitute any orange-flavored liqueur and add a dash of blue food coloring to give your drink its distinctive hue.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Spector characterized Angelou's music as "calypso style with a liberal sprinkling of Afro-Cuban, and a dash of blues mixed together with delicate jazz".

Wikipedia

His skill is to make coats and dresses appear simple — a compass twirl of shoulders above straight-line hips and simple colors like black and white, with a dash of cobalt blue.

The New York Times

After focusing, the proteins were reduced by incubating the IPG strips with 1% w/v DTT, for 15 min, and alkylated with 2.5% w/v iodoacetamide in 10 ml of equilibration buffer (6 M urea, 30% w/v glycerol, 2% w/v SDS, 50 mM Tris HCl pH 8.8, and a dash of bromophenol blue) for 15 min.

BMC Plant Biology

He has developed a forceful impressionistic brush technique to create webs of dragged and stippled strokes often imbedded with nuggets of soft color: a dash of sky-blue here, a lemon-yellow wash there.

The New York Times - Arts

There's a little sting as I pull back on the plunger, and a dash of red-blue blood snakes up the middle of the clear liquid.

HuffPost

I insert the needle, there's a little sting, pull back on the plunger, and a dash of red-blue blood snakes up the middle of the clear liquid.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing visual elements, use "a dash of blue" to indicate a small, noticeable amount of blue that adds character without dominating the scene.

Common error

Avoid using "a dash of blue" in formal reports or academic papers. Opt for more precise and quantifiable language to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a dash of blue" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as an object or complement within a sentence. It describes a small quantity of the color blue and often enhances descriptive or aesthetic contexts, similar to examples found by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a dash of blue" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a small amount of the color blue. Ludwig AI indicates that it's suitable for adding descriptive detail, particularly in contexts like fashion, art, and food. While its frequency is rare, it appears across various sources, including news and media. For more formal writing, consider using more precise language. Related phrases include "a hint of blue" or "a touch of blue" for similar effect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a hint of blue

Replaces "dash" with "hint", suggesting a slightly more subtle presence of blue.

a touch of blue

Substitutes "dash" with "touch", indicating a delicate application of blue.

a splash of blue

Uses "splash" instead of "dash", implying a more vibrant and noticeable addition of blue.

a speck of blue

Replaces "dash" with "speck", suggesting an even smaller quantity of blue.

a streak of blue

Changes "dash" to "streak", implying a linear application of blue.

a glimmer of blue

Emphasizes the visual quality of the blue being faint or subtle.

a trace of blue

Indicates a minimal presence of blue, almost imperceptible.

a suggestion of blue

Suggests that the blue is subtly implied rather than overtly present.

a whisper of blue

Uses "whisper" to convey an extremely subtle and delicate presence of blue.

an accent of blue

Implies that blue is used as an ornamental addition.

FAQs

How can I use "a dash of blue" in a sentence?

Use "a dash of blue" to describe a small amount of the color blue added to something, often for aesthetic effect. For example, "The artist added "a dash of blue" to the painting to brighten it up."

What is a similar phrase to "a dash of blue"?

Similar phrases include "a hint of blue", "a touch of blue", or "a splash of blue". These all describe a small quantity of blue.

Is "a dash of blue" formal or informal?

"A dash of blue" is generally considered informal and is best suited for creative writing, descriptive passages, or casual conversation. For formal contexts, more precise language might be preferable.

Can "a dash of blue" refer to something other than color?

While primarily used to describe color, "a dash of" can be used metaphorically to describe a small amount of some other quality or characteristic. However, this usage is less common and requires careful contextual setup.