Where did the expression "feeling blue" come from?
Learn English – Origin of the of the phrase “feeling blue”
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Best Answer
If you are sad and describe yourself as "feeling blue," you are using a phrase coined from a custom among many old deepwater sailing ships. If the ship lost the captain or any of the officers during its voyage, she would fly blue flags and have a blue band painted along her entire hull when returning to home port.
Also, see Origins of Navy Terminology for other expressions.