The phrase “color me” is an idiomatic expression that has been used in the English language since at least the mid-20th century. It is commonly used to express surprise, interest, or amusement in response to something unexpected or unusual that has been said or done.
Origin and History
The exact origins of the phrase are unclear, but it seems to have first come into popular usage in the 1940s and 1950s. Some of the earliest known uses of “color me” appear in newspapers from that era:
“Color me amazed when I heard that account of yours!” (The Boston Globe, 1941)
“Well, color me impressed. I’ve never seen anyone dance like that before.” (Chicago Tribune, 1947)
| Year | Example quote with “color me” |
|---|---|
| 1941 | “Color me amazed when I heard that account of yours!” (The Boston Globe) |
| 1947 | “Well, color me impressed. I’ve never seen anyone dance like that before.” (Chicago Tribune) |
The phrase seems to have originally been used to express surprise or astonishment. But over time, it came to take on a wider range of meanings and uses in conversational English.
Meaning and Usage
When someone says “color me X,” the speaker is indicating that they want the listener to figuratively “color” or label them as feeling or appearing X. The “X” can be filled in with any applicable adjective depending on the context and the desired meaning.
Here are some common ways “color me” is used in modern English speech and writing:
- Color me surprised – I am very surprised.
- Color me impressed – I am very impressed.
- Color me confused – I am very confused.
- Color me embarrassed – I am very embarrassed.
- Color me disappointed – I am very disappointed.
So “color me” expresses that the speaker wants to be identified as experiencing or displaying the emotion that follows the phrase. It indicates a stronger, more intense form of that emotion than just saying “I am surprised” or “I am impressed.”
Some other examples:
- Color me shocked when I heard she won the lottery.
- Color me angry that my flight was canceled again!
- Color me satisfied with how the project turned out.
Similar Idiomatic Expressions
“Color me” belongs to a category of idiomatic expressions that use an action verb followed by an adjective to convey an emotional state:
| Idiomatic expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Count me in | I want to participate |
| Mark me down as [adjective] | Label or identify me as [adjective] |
| Call me crazy | I realize this may seem crazy |
The “call me”, “count me”, and “mark me down” constructions express similar meanings as “color me.” They ask the listener to apply a figurative label to the speaker.
Variations
There are a few common variations on the standard “color me X” form:
- “Color me X, Y” – Using two adjectives for emphasis: “Color me shocked and appalled.”
- “Color me X, would you?” – Phrased as a question: “Color me surprised, would you?”
- “Color me X, but…” – Contrasting two clauses: “Color me impressed, but I think it could be better.”
But the basic pattern of “Color me [adjective]” remains the most common form used in everyday speech.
Use in Pop Culture
The “color me” idiom has been used in the titles and lyrics of various books, songs, and albums over the years. Here are some notable examples:
- Color Me Barbra – 1966 album by Barbra Streisand
- “Color Me Impressed” – 1989 song by The Replacements
- Color Me Grey: A Novel – Book by Jenny Dale (2013)
- “Yo, color me crazy but…” – Lyrics from “Make Me Proud” by Drake (2011)
These help demonstrate how ingrained “color me” has become in the English lexicon and how flexible it is for expressing surprise, skepticism, excitement, and other emotional states.
Translation in Other Languages
Because “color me” is an English idiom relying on figurative language, it can be tricky to translate directly into other languages. Sometimes languages will have an equivalent idiom, but other times a more literal translation is used. Here are some examples of how “color me impressed” translates:
- French – Je suis très impressionné (“I am very impressed”)
- Spanish – Estoy muy impresionado (“I am very impressed”)
- Italian – Sono molto colpito (“I am very impressed/astounded”)
- German – Ich bin sehr beeindruckt (“I am very impressed”)
So while the figurative meaning carries over, the playful imagery of “color me” gets lost in translation. But it remains a fun and expressive English idiom.
Conclusion
In summary, “color me” is an idiomatic phrase used to convey strong emotional reactions like surprise, embarrassment, excitement, skepticism, and more. It emerged in the mid-20th century and became part of the English vernacular. While its exact origins are unclear, “color me” is now deeply embedded in the language and often appears in speech, writing, song lyrics, book titles, and more. It has similar meanings to constructions like “count me in” or “call me crazy” that ask the listener to identify the speaker with a particular adjective. So next time you have a strong reaction to something unexpected, try declaring “Color me impressed!” or “Color me shocked!” to express yourself in true idiomatic style.
