off color

O

off color (idiomatic expression, adjective)
/ˌɑːf ˈkʌlər/ (US), /ˌɔːf ˈkʌlər/ (UK)

Meanings

• Inappropriate or indecent, especially a joke or remark.
• Slightly rude, not suitable for polite company.
• Feeling unwell or somewhat sick.
• Faded, dull, or not the right shade of color (literal).

Synonyms: indecent; improper; rude; risqué; crude; sickly; pale.

Variants

• off-colour (British spelling)
• off-color joke
• a bit off-color

Example Sentences

1. His speech shocked the audience because he slipped in an off color
2. The comedian was known for his off color humor, which wasn’t to everyone’s taste.
3. She said she was feeling a bit off color and decided to stay home from work.
4. The old curtains looked off color after years of exposure to sunlight. (literal)

Origin and History

Early Heraldic Evidence (1759)

The earliest known occurrence of the phrase “off color” in print appears in A Catalogue of the Harleian Collection of Manuscripts, published in London in 1759. In a section describing heraldic banners, the text reads:

“This other Standard feeld stable, off colour Ynde, i.e. blue …”

In this context, the expression functions as a literal descriptive marker in heraldry, indicating tincture or shade. It demonstrates that the phrase was already established in the English lexicon as a neutral descriptor of hue by the mid-eighteenth century.

Technical Application in Gemology (1860)

A century later, the phrase occurs in a technical and commercial register. In A. de Barrera’s Gems and Jewels (London, 1860), one finds:

“If the manufactured diamond is found to contain a flaw, or what is technically termed ‘off-color’, its value is proportionately diminished.”

Here, “off color” is used in gemological terminology to signify stones that lack the desirable purity of tint. This shows its movement into specialized professional language, where “off color” indicated imperfection or diminished quality.

The original London edition prints the form “off-color” rather than the British “off-colour.” This reflects the flexible spelling practices of the nineteenth century and the publisher’s or author’s choice, not a different idiom. Both forms should be understood as the same expression.

Emergence of Figurative Meanings

From these literal foundations, “off color” evolved into broader figurative uses during the latter half of the nineteenth century. One pathway led to the description of health: to be “a bit off color” meant to feel unwell or out of sorts, a meaning that likely stemmed from associations with complexion and physical appearance. Another pathway extended the sense of impurity and deviation into matters of taste and propriety: jokes or remarks deemed “off color” were seen as risqué, indecent, or unsuitable for polite society. Both figurative senses appear in print by the late Victorian period and soon became firmly established in everyday English.

Semantic Development and Interpretations

The semantic progression of “off color” illustrates how technical or descriptive language can shift into idiomatic territory. In heraldry, it referred to tincture; in gemology, it indicated flawed hue; in general English, it came to denote deviation from health or moral propriety. Scholars interpret this shift in several ways: some emphasize continuity from commercial evaluation (impure stones equated with impurity of behavior), while others stress the bodily metaphor (abnormal complexion signaling illness). Both strands likely contributed to the idiom’s range of meanings.

Cultural and Geographic Context

The documented history of “off color” situates its origin firmly in Britain. Its first attested appearance in heraldic description was published in London, and its subsequent adoption in gemology reflects Victorian commercial and scientific discourse. By the late nineteenth century, both British and American English had embraced the figurative forms, with the “indecent” sense becoming especially common in colloquial American usage, particularly in humor and performance contexts.

Origin Summary

The phrase “off color” has a layered history. It begins in eighteenth-century heraldic description, reappears in nineteenth-century gemological terminology, and later enters common English with figurative senses tied to health and morality. This trajectory shows how a phrase rooted in the literal description of hue transformed into a versatile idiom for physical state and social propriety. Its evolution exemplifies the broader linguistic process through which specialized terms gain metaphorical life and cultural resonance.

Color, Off