Have you ever wondered what the expression' New blood' meant? If so, you've come to the right place. In this article, we'll explore the meaning of this common idiom, its possible origins, and how to use it in a sentence.
If you're just here to find out what it means, here's the short version:
This idiom typically refers to new people or fresh individuals who join a group, organization, or community. It suggests infusing new ideas, energy, perspectives, or talents into a situation.
When someone mentions bringing in 'new blood,' they emphasize the positive impact newcomers can have because they often have new, innovative ideas or revitalize a group just by being there.
Imagine, for example, that your company was struggling financially.
You might say to your partner:
We need to bring in some new blood, people who have fresh ideas to bring to the table.
The idiom has roots in medieval medical beliefs. In medieval times, a person's health and vitality were determined by the balance of four bodily humors: blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile. The concept was part of the ancient Greek theory of humorism, which suggested that an imbalance in these bodily fluids could lead to illness.
'New blood' referred explicitly to fresh, recently circulating blood. The idea was that introducing new blood into the body could have rejuvenating effects and restore balance. Over time, the term evolved metaphorically to refer to the introduction of new individuals or ideas into a group or system to bring about revitalization and innovation.
The metaphorical sense of 'new blood' has been used for several centuries, evident in written texts from the 19th century. For instance, in the mid-1800s, you can find examples in literature and newspapers where 'new blood' describes the infusion of fresh ideas or individuals into groups.
Now that we've covered the meaning of this idiom and its origins, here are some example sentences that use it.
The struggling company decided to hire some new blood in the form of young and dynamic professionals to bring fresh ideas to the table.
After years of traditional productions, the theater company decided to bring in some new blood, hoping to breathe fresh life into their performances
The club was in need of revitalization, so they brought in new blood by recruiting talented players from other teams.
The research team sought to collaborate with experts from diverse fields, believing that the introduction of new blood would lead to groundbreaking discoveries.
The committee recognized the importance of diversity and actively sought new blood to ensure a broad range of perspectives in decision-making.
The organization decided to appoint a new CEO to bring in new blood and steer the company in a different direction.
The school board hoped that hiring new teachers with innovative teaching methods would be a source of new blood for the educational system.
The political party, in an effort to appeal to a wider audience, introduced new blood into its leadership to connect with younger voters.
The editorial team was expanded with the addition of new journalists, bringing fresh perspectives and writing styles to the publication.
The high school eagerly welcomed new blood as enthusiastic and creative students joined, bringing a wave of innovation to the annual school productions.
There are plenty of other ways to refer to people who provide fresh energy. They're great to use if you're looking for alternative phrases, but they don't all mean the new people will bring in innovative ideas.
Some of them are only terms to refer to new people. Others refer to the idea of renewed vitality.
Here are some of them:
That concludes this article about this popular idiom. To summarize, 'New blood' is a person or people who are new to a situation, and are brought in to provide renewed energy and perspective.
Are you ready to learn more English phrases and expand your vocabulary? Check out our idioms blog for other idioms, expressions, sayings, and more!
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