A Blue Million

In Southern and Appalachian speech, "a blue million" means a huge number-countless, more than you can keep track of. It’s a folksy exaggeration used when something feels like "a whole mess" or "a heap."

#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #DialectandGrammar #Southern

synonyms: a heap, a mess of, a passel, a right smart of, a ton, countless

Hillbilly Dude Says...

'A blue million' is a common one around here, I've heard it all my life.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

'A blue million' is a common one around here, I've heard it all my life.

Pronunciation

[uh BLOO MIL-yun]
/ə blu ˈmɪljən/

Meaning & Usage

- An exaggeratedly large number or amount (phrase / idiom)

Earl:

How many eggs y’all got this mornin’?

Ruby:

Mercy, a blue million!

variations: blue million

Origin and Etymology

First recorded in Southern U.S. dialects in the late 1800s. "Blue" adds emphasis rather than color-much like "a whole mess" or "a pure sight." Common across Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, and Alabama, it became a trademark Southern way to say "too many to count."

Usage Notes

Still used in the South and Appalachia to express humorous exaggeration. Can describe numbers of people, chores, animals, or anything that feels endless.

"She’s got a blue million cousins."
"I’ve told him a blue million times."

Kin Topics

Common Questions

What does "a blue million" mean?

It means an enormous number-more than you could possibly count.

Is it really Southern?

Yes. It’s long been a favorite exaggeration in Southern and Appalachian talk, still heard in small towns and storytelling.

Why "blue"?

"Blue" here just intensifies the meaning-like saying "a pure mess" or "a plum sight." It doesn’t refer to color.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 4). A Blue Million. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/a-blue-million
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "A Blue Million." HillbillySlang.com, 4 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/a-blue-million.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "A Blue Million." HillbillySlang.com. October 4, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/a-blue-million.

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