IdiomBody & Senses
Russian
Russianдо посинения (do posineniya)
Meaning: To do something with extreme effort or persistence, usually futilely.
Literally: Until blueness
Example: “Можно спорить до посинения, решение уже принято.” — You can argue until you're blue in the face; the decision is made.
English equivalent: Until one is blue in the face
Equivalents in other languages
English: until one is blue in the face
Origin: Until turning blue: doing something so long and so hard that one goes blue in the face from cold, strain or holding one's breath. Fedorov's phrase dictionary defines it as to the point of utter exhaustion. It has no particular story behind it.
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