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From BBC Learning English. Hello and welcome. B. Rob. My house is a mess, toys, pencils, paints everywhere and I've been trying to get them to clear

everything up.

And I guess you haven't been successful?

That's right.

I shouted at them until I was blue in the face. But the house is still a mess.

Rob, you don't look blue to me. Just your normal colour. I know that. What I mean is I'm wasting my time because it won't happen.

Whatever I say I won't get the result I want.

Which is a tidy house. Hmm, so saying something until you're blue in the face

means telling someone something is a waste of time because nothing will

happen or change. Oh dear Rob, it sounds like you have no control over your kids.

You're probably right.

But I'm not alone.

Let's hear some other people who are blue in the face.

I've told him to get here on time until I'm blue in the face,

but still he continues to arrive late. He told her not to break the speed limit on the motorway until he was blue in the face, but she still did it and guess what? She got a speeding ticket.

So saying until I'm blue in the face

means even though you keep saying something,

nobody will listen to you. I know what that's like Rob.

Really?

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