blush
blush
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for the word "blush" is: /blʌʃ/
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable (there's only one syllable in "blush"):
b: /b/ - A bilabial plosive (a consonant sound made by closing both lips and then releasing the air).
l: /l/ - An alveolar lateral approximant (a consonant sound made with the tongue touching the alveolar ridge (the gum ridge behind the upper teeth), allowing air to escape along the sides of the tongue).
ʌ: /ʌ/ - A near-open central unrounded vowel (the vowel sound in words like "cut" or "strut").
ʃ: /ʃ/ - A post-alveolar fricative (a consonant sound made by forcing air through a narrow channel formed by the tongue and the area behind the alveolar ridge, creating a hissing sound, like the "sh" in "ship").
Word Form Variations
blush (noun - singular) - A reddening of the face, typically due to embarrassment or shame. Also can be a verb.
blushes (noun - plural) - Instances of blushing.
blush (verb - intransitive) - To become red in the face from embarrassment or shame.
blushed (verb - past tense/past participle) - Having blushed.
blushing (verb - present participle/gerund) - In the process of blushing. Also can be an adjective.
blusher (noun - singular) - A cosmetic used to add color to the cheeks. (This is related to the effect of blushing, but not a direct word form of the verb "blush" in the same way the others are).
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun:
Definition: A visible reddening of the face, typically involuntary, caused by physiological factors such as embarrassment, shame, excitement, or warmth. It can also refer to a cosmetic product used to add color to the cheeks.
Synonyms: flush, reddening, rose, bloom, color, tinge (for the physical reaction); rouge, blusher (for the cosmetic)
Antonyms: pallor, whiteness, paleness (for the physical reaction)
Verb (Intransitive):
Definition: To become red in the face, typically due to embarrassment, shame, excitement, or warmth.
Synonyms: flush, redden, color, glow, crimson
Antonyms: pale, whiten, blanch
Adjective:
Definition: Having a reddish or rosy color, often resembling the color of a blush. Also, experiencing or showing a blush.
Synonyms: flushed, rosy, ruddy, crimson, glowing
Antonyms: pale, white, colorless, blanched
Adverb (Less common, but possible):
Definition: In a blushing manner; with a blush. (This usage is less frequent and might sound slightly awkward, but it's grammatically possible.)
Synonyms: rosily, redly, flushingly (these are also not very common)
Antonyms: palely, whitely
It's important to note that the adverbial form of "blush" is rarely used. It's much more common to use a phrase like "she said, blushing" than to say "she said blushingly."
Examples of Use
Literature:
"Elizabeth Bennet blushed as she encountered Mr. Darcy yet again, her feelings a confusing mix of annoyance and attraction." (This is a fictional example, mimicking the style of classic literature, as "Pride and Prejudice," but the use of "blush" in such contexts is common.)
"The young protagonist's cheeks blushed crimson as she received the unexpected compliment." (Again, a fictional example demonstrating typical literary usage.)
Newspapers/Online Publications:
"The politician blushed slightly when questioned about the controversial donation." (News article example, showing the word used to describe a reaction.)
"The bride-to-be wore a stunning gown with a delicate blush hue." (Fashion/lifestyle article, describing a color.)
"Social media users were quick to point out the actor's awkward blush during the live interview." (Entertainment news, showing how the term is used to describe public reactions.)
Entertainment (Movies/TV):
In countless romantic comedies, a character might blush when their love interest pays them a compliment. (This is a common trope.)
A character in a drama might blush when caught in a lie or experiencing a moment of shame.
General Public Discourse:
"I blushed when I realized I had accidentally sent the message to the wrong person." (Example of everyday conversation.)
"She gave me a blushing smile when I told her how much I liked her dress." (Example of describing someone's reaction.)
"My face always blushes when I speak in public." (Example of someone describing their own physical reaction.)
Cosmetics:
"I need to buy some new blush." (Example of everyday conversation regarding makeup.)
"This blush is the perfect shade for my skin tone." (Example of a review or discussion about makeup.)
10 Famous Quotes Using Blush
“Modesty is the color of virtue. If it appears, it is virtue’s good sign; if it is lost, virtue itself is in danger. For when the blush is once out of the face, the shame is often out of the heart.” — John Bunyan
“He that is ashamed of his poverty would be equally proud of his wealth. Virtue is the only possession that should never blush.” — Jean-Jacques Rousseau
“Blushing is the color of virtue.” — Diogenes Laërtius (on Socrates)
“Women blush before they are guilty; men blush only when they have done wrong.” — Jean-Jacques Rousseau
“Blessed is the man who blushes at his faults, for he shall be loved.” — Thomas Fuller
“There is a blush of shame and a blush of modesty; the former is a proof of guilt, the latter of innocence.” — Joseph Addison
“One of the greatest pleasures in life is to see virtue blush.” — Aristotle (attributed)
“He that cannot blush cannot be virtuous.” — Thomas Watson
“When love beckons to you, follow him, though his ways are hard and steep; for love gives not but itself and takes not but from itself. It makes no other claim than to fulfill itself—even when it makes you blush.” — Kahlil Gibran
“The blushing is the color of passion as much as of shame; one cannot always tell which one.” — George Sand
Etymology
"Blush" comes from an Old English word, blyscan, which meant "to redden." Think of it like the word "blaze," which also relates to brightness and fire. Blyscan likely had connections to other Germanic words related to shining and glowing.
The first known use of "blush" in written English, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, was around the year 1300. At that time, it already had the meaning we're familiar with: to become red in the face, usually from embarrassment, shame, or excitement. So, even back then, it was tied to that involuntary reddening of the face due to emotional or sometimes physical causes (like heat).
Essentially, the word has kept its core meaning unchanged for centuries. It's always been about that visible reddening. There hasn't been any major shift in its meaning or any surprising twists in its etymological journey. It's a direct descendant of its Old English ancestor, blyscan, and it's always been about turning red!
Phrases + Idioms Containing Blush
Phrases (more literal):
To blush crimson/scarlet/deep red: Emphasizes the intensity of the blush.
To blush to the roots of one's hair: Indicates a very strong blush, suggesting it extends beyond the face.
To blush with shame/embarrassment/pleasure: Specifies the cause of the blush.
A rosy blush: Describes the color of the blush.
To feel a blush rising: Describes the physical sensation of blushing.
To hide a blush: Attempting to conceal the physical reaction.
Less Common/Figurative Phrases:
The blush of youth: A poetic phrase referring to the youthful glow of the skin.
A blush of color: Describing a slight tint or shade of red.
The blush of dawn/twilight: Using "blush" metaphorically to describe the colors of the sky.
Idioms using Synonyms (capturing the feeling):
To turn red/crimson/scarlet: These are very common idioms for blushing, using direct synonyms.
To flush with embarrassment/shame/excitement: "Flush" is a close synonym for "blush" and is readily used in idioms.
To go red in the face: A simple and direct way of expressing blushing.
To have one's face burn: Describes the sensation of heat often associated with blushing.
Original/Conceptual Phrases (playing with the idea):
To wear a blush: To have a constant or readily triggered tendency to blush.
To catch a blush: To notice someone else blushing.
A blush betrayed their true feelings: Using "blush" to indicate the involuntary revealing of emotions.
It's important to reiterate that "blush" itself doesn't lend itself easily to idiomatic use. The examples above either use synonyms, describe the physical reaction directly, or are more poetic/figurative than true idioms. The language surrounding blushing tends to be quite literal.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of blush from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
