What Does "Boys in Blue" Mean?

Co-authored by Eric McClure

Last Updated: July 6, 2022 References

If you’ve heard someone reference the “boys in blue,” you may be wondering who these boys are. While this whimsical phrase may sound like it refers to some kind of secret superhero organization, the truth is actually much more straightforward. In this article, we’ll breakdown who the “boys in blue” are, how they got that name, as well as how you can use the idiom yourself. We’ll even cover a few corner cases where the “boys in blue” may refer to other groups.

Section 1 of 4:

What does “boys in blue” mean?

“Boys in blue” is a playful slang term for the police. In the United Kingdom and the United States, the "boys in blue" are police officers. This phrase generally has playful and friendly connotations.^{[1]
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- “Boys in blue” is a blanket term that includes all genders. It’s kind of like saying “hey guys!” when addressing a room of men and women.

Section 2 of 4:

How do you use “boys in blue?”

Make a sentence about police more playful with “boys in blue.” The word “police” is kind of straightforward, while “law enforcement” is cold and clinical. However, “boys in blue” sounds so fun and whimsical! You might say:
- “They caught the shoplifter on camera. They’re just waiting for the boys in blue to show up and arrest them.”
- “Are the boys in blue on their way?”
- “Did you see the boys in blue riding their horses over on Main Street?”

Section 3 of 4:

What is the origin of “boys in blue?”

In the US and UK, police officers wear distinct navy blue uniforms. The origins of the phrase are a little unclear. In the UK, it seems that police officers wore blue to contrast with the British military, which wore red. In the United States, the Union Army wore blue, and when the first police force was formed in 1845, they wore blue to match the UK police.^{[2]
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- In many countries, police forces wear white, gray, or neon vests. As such, if you say “boys in blue” outside of the US or UK, people may not know what you’re talking about.

Section 4 of 4:

Alternative Meanings

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A “boy in blue” might refer to a LGBTQ+ man. There is a 17th century painting by Thomas Gainsborough that depicts a young man in elegant, blue clothing.^{[3]
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Research source} In some circles, the painting became an icon of queer masculinity.^{[4]
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Research source} In this context, a “boy in blue” refers to a confident, gay or queer man.
- Someone might say, “I love that boy in blue,” or, “What a dashing boy in blue! That outfit is so on point.”
- This is not a particularly common usage, but you may see lovers of fine art or folks in the LGBTQ+ community using it.
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“Boys in blue” could refer to any team in blue uniforms. Basically, any team or organization that wears a blue uniform can be referred to as the “boys in blue.” It’s just a fun nickname you can give a team that everyone will understand.^{[5]
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- If you watch the Toronto Blue Jays or Chicago Bears play, an announcer might say, “Here come the boys in blue!” as they enter the stadium.
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The “boys in blue” may refer to the Union Army in the Civil War. In the American Civil War, the Confederate Army wore distinctive grey uniforms. The Union, on the other hand, wore deep navy blue uniforms. This may be the origin of “boys in blue” in the United States, as there are many ballads, poems, and colloquialisms from the late 19th century that refer to the Union soldiers as “boys in blue.”^{[6]
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- It’s rare these days that someone would use “boys in blue” to refer to the Union Army in everyday conversation, but you might hear a history teacher or museum curator use it this way.