The idiom "blue light special" refers to a type of sale or promotion that is offered suddenly and unexpectedly, often for a limited time only. The term comes from the practice of some department stores in the past, which would use a blue flashing light to signal a special discount or deal on certain products.
You might use this idiom when talking about a sudden and unexpected sale or promotion that you came across, or when describing a situation where something is being offered at a discounted price for a limited time only. For example, you could say, "I was walking through the mall and saw a blue light special at the shoe store - all sandals were 50% off for the next hour!"
Overall, the idiom "blue light special" is a fun and colorful way to describe a sudden and exciting sale or promotion.
• I remember as a kid getting excited whenever I saw the blue light flashing because it meant we were getting a good deal.
• The blue light special is a relic of a bygone era when people actually went to physical retail stores to shop instead of buying everything online.
• The store's advertising campaign promised big discounts during their blue light special, but the reality was that most of the items were still overpriced.
• At K-Mart, they used to have a blue light special where certain items were on sale for a limited time.
• I don't know what "blue light special" means.
• As a savvy shopper, I always check the prices of items during a blue light special to make sure I'm actually getting a good deal.