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Difference between Have the baby blues and Have the blues

have the baby blues—(coll.) feel sad or depressed when pregnant:

  • After seven months, Karly had the baby blues. She was feeling sad.

have the blues—(coll.) feel sad or depressed:

  • Doctors told her she just had the blues, and although they offered her medications, they did not keep her in the hospital.

Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase have a blue—(Austral. sl.) get into an argument; start a fight or brawl:

  • There is an old bloke who sits on the verandah of the pub who won’t drink inside because he had a blue with the publican.