TO BLUSH LIKE A BLACK (or BLUE) DOG, verb. phr. (old).—Not to blush at all.

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  1579.  GOSSON, An Apologie of the Schoole of Abuse, 75. If it bee my fortune too meete with the learned woorkes of this London Sabinus, that can not playe the part without a prompter, nor utter a wise worde without a piper, you shall see we will make him to BLUSH LIKE A BLACKE DOGGE, when he is graveled.

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  1634.  WITHALS, Dictionary, p. 557 [ed. 1634]. Faciem perfricuit. Hee BLUSHETH LIKE A BLACKE DOGGE, hee hath a brazen face.

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  1738.  SWIFT, Polite Conversation [Conv. i.).

          Lord Sp.  (to the Maid). Mrs. Betty, how does your body politick?
  Col.  Fye, my lord, you’ll make Mrs. Betty blush.
  Lady Sm.  Blush! Ay, BLUSH LIKE A BLUE DOG.

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  1828.  C. K. SHARPE to a lady, in C. K. Sharpe’s Correspondence (1888), II., 421. I send you a pair of blue stockings of my own knitting. I BLUSH LIKE A BLUE DOG about the workmanship, for I fear they are too short.

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