'Run off into the Blue' - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Rumil · 03-27-2007, 01:20 PM

Hi all,

I've heard that the British forces in the North African desert campaign often referred to going into the desert at going 'into the Blue' and that 'the Blue' became the nickname for the desert. I guess JRRT could have picked up this usage from his son, who was stationed in the Middle East, but the timing seems wrong for the Hobbit quote.

Cheers,

Farael · 03-27-2007, 09:32 PM

Well, having learned English as a second language, I believe that somewhere or another, I learned that "going off into the blue" meant "going away, into the unknown".

And as anything I learned from my English books, odds are it's a very antiquated and odd way of speaking, that Tolkien as a great scholar, knew and used.

03-27-2007, 01:20 PM	#1
Rumil Sage & Onions Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Britain Posts: 894	The Blue Hi all, I've heard that the British forces in the North African desert campaign often referred to going into the desert at going 'into the Blue' and that 'the Blue' became the nickname for the desert. I guess JRRT could have picked up this usage from his son, who was stationed in the Middle East, but the timing seems wrong for the Hobbit quote. Cheers, __________________ Rumil of Coedhirion

03-27-2007, 09:32 PM	#2
Farael Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: In hospitals, call rooms and (rarely) my apartment. Posts: 1,538	Well, having learned English as a second language, I believe that somewhere or another, I learned that "going off into the blue" meant "going away, into the unknown". And as anything I learned from my English books, odds are it's a very antiquated and odd way of speaking, that Tolkien as a great scholar, knew and used. __________________ I prepared Explosive Runes this morning.