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UKborn in / to the purple
/bˈɔːn ɪn tʊ ðə pˈɜːpəl/
/bˈɔːɹn ɪn tʊ ðə pˈɜːpəl/born in / to the purple
[PHRASE]
What is the origin of the idiom "born in the purple" and when to use it?
The origin of the idiom "born in the purple" can be traced back to the Byzantine Empire, which existed from the 4th to the 15th centuries. In Byzantium, the color purple was associated with royalty and was exclusively reserved for the ruling emperor or empress. Purple dye was expensive and difficult to produce, making it a symbol of prestige and power. The phrase is often used in literature, academic writings, or cultural analyses to depict individuals who possess inherent advantages or entitlements due to their noble birth.
Examples
1. She was born in the purple.
2. But he was a man of extraordinary ambition, and the ancient writers tell us that he had developed the notion of actually bringing about a revolution in Sparta and changing the constitution in such a way that would allow him to become effectively the ruler of Sparta, and the kings, the traditional kings, who were born to the purple to be put aside.
3. No aristocrat, no prince born to the purple, can begin to compare with the self respect of the saint.
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