| Colour Idioms | Перевод |
| green with envy | завидовать |
| to be green | быть неопытным |
| the green light | зеленый свет (возможность беспрепятственно осуществить ч-л) |
| a green belt | зеленая зона |
| to turn purple/white with rage | побагроветь от ярости |
| blue movie | порнофильм |
| to feel blue | унывать |
| once in a blue moon | раз в сто лет, очень редко |
| out of the blue | нежданно-негаданно |
| blue-collar worker | «синий воротничок», производственный рабочий |
| to have blue blood | иметь аристократическое происхождение |
| a black sheep | паршивая овца |
| black market | черный, подпольный рынок |
| blacklist | черный список |
| black and blue | в синяках |
| in black and white | в письменной форме |
| in the black | быть в плюсе, не иметь долгов |
| black look | злобный взгляд |
| blackleg | мошенник |
| a black eye | синяк |
| red-carpet treatment | королевский прием |
| as red as a beetroot | красный как помидор |
| the red carpet | красная ковровая дорожка |
| a red herring | отвлекающий маневр |
| to see red |
прийти в бешенство |
| red light district | квартал публичных домов |
| red-letter day | праздничный день |
| red tape | бюрократия, волокита |
| to be in the red | иметь задолженность |
| to paint the town red | отрываться; гулять |
| to be caught red-handed | быть пойманным на месте преступления |
| to be yellow | трусить |
| blue-eyed boy | любимчик |
| a white-collar job | конторская должность |
| to be blue with cold | посинеть от холода |
| a white lie | ложь во спасение |
| as white as a sheet | белый как полотно |
| to look at the world through rose-tinted spectacles | смотреть на мир сквозь розовые очки |
| white wedding | свадебная церемония |
| a white elephant | подарок, который не знаешь куда девать |
| grey matter | интеллект; ум |
| with flying colours | с честью |
| to feel off colour | нездоровится |
33 Color Idioms And Expression To Brighten Your Speech
18 min
Created: January 17th, 2023Last updated: March 31st, 2023
Contents
English is a language full of idiomatic expressions. It abounds with sayings that might not make literal sense, but convey a deeper meaning, often based on cultural references. These little turns of phrases create vivid images in our minds and can be used to communicate a range of emotions more effectively than literal language. One way that English does this is by incorporating references to colors. Colorful idioms can spice up your speech and make it more interesting, not to mention more fun.
If you want to add brilliance to your English conversations, this article is for you! We will look at some of the most popular color-based idioms in the English language. Furthermore, we will provide some example sentences to help you see how to use these expressions.
What are colorful idioms?
An idiom is a phrase that has a meaning which is not literal. In other words, when you use an expression, you are not saying exactly what the words mean. For example, if somebody says to you, “I’m pulling your leg,” they will not grab your limb and tug on it! Instead, this person is joking with you or trying to mislead you.
There are thousands of idioms in English, many of which refer to colors. It is thought that this is because colors are often used to describe an emotion, providing a quick and effective way to communicate a feeling or message. The use of color in the language is not limited to idioms. You will also find color proverbs, metaphors, and similes.
You will notice color idioms appearing in daily conversations as you learn English. You might also see them in books, films, and TV shows. And, of course, you can add some life and vibrancy to your English conversations once you start using them!
33 color idioms and expressions
This list showcases some of the most popular idioms that involve color. We have included an example sentence with each idiom to help you understand how it is used. Also, remember that some phrases can be used differently and possess several meanings.
- To show your true colors.
If someone is showing their “true colors,” they are revealing their type of person, either positive or negative characteristics that have been hidden previously. The phrase is often used to show the unmasking of someone’s real character.
The man had always seemed pleasant and kind but soon showed his true colors by being rude to the waiter.
She always appeared perfect and put together, but her true colors started to show when she was under pressure.
- To pass with flying colors.
To “pass with flying colors” means to succeed and surpass expectations in an endeavor or challenge, usually an exam. It suggests such excellence that the person is seen as victorious – like a soldier returning home with their flags intact!
She was worried about going into her test, but she passed with flying colors; she got one of the highest grades in the class.
Melanie worked hard to prepare for her presentation and passed with flying colors, much to the delight of her boss.
- To look for/see the silver lining.
If you are “looking for the silver lining,” you are trying to find a positive result or outcome from a difficult situation. The phrase is derived from how clouds often part and reveal rays of silvery light when the sun begins to shine.
This economic crisis may have put us in an unpleasant situation, but we must keep looking for the silver lining – try not to be disheartened!
The exam was challenging, but I’m looking for the silver lining – hopefully, my hard work will pay off.
- The silver screen.
The term “the silver screen” refers to the movie industry. It is often used to convey a sense of glamor or nostalgia about the cinema.
He was one of the most successful directors in Hollywood, and his movies impacted the silver screen for years.
John became famous overnight after his performance on the silver screen made him a star.
- Born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth.
This phrase is used to describe someone who was born into a wealthy or privileged family. People born “with a silver spoon in their mouth” often enjoy certain advantages or luxuries simply due to their parents’ wealth.
He had always been used to having things handed to him – he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
Although she grew up in poverty, she was determined to make something of her life and show that she didn’t need a silver spoon to be successful.
- Black sheep.
This is one of the phrases with colors that carries a negative connotation and is used to describe somebody who stands out from the crowd in a negative way. It could mean that they have behaved poorly or done something wrong, but it can also be used for people who simply don’t fit in and are considered outsiders.
My parents weren’t too happy with my rebellious behavior. I was the black sheep of the family.
He was put down at school for being different and viewed as his peers’ black sheep.
- In the black.
The idiom “in the black” means doing very well financially or having a good money situation. It is the opposite of being “in the red,” typically referring to businesses or companies.
The company was about to close down before they changed their strategy – now they are in the black again and more successful than ever!
He has made wise investments that have put him firmly in the black.
- White lie.
A “white lie” is a harmless lie that somebody tells to make another person feel better. It also helps avoid uncomfortable situations or difficult conversations while still trying to preserve the truth.
I had to tell him a white lie and say that his painting was beautiful, even though I thought it was terrible.
She used a white lie to get out of going on a date – she said she had an important meeting that day.
- Black or white.
You may have heard someone say, “It’s black or white; there is no gray area.” This idiom refers to situations with only two possible outcomes – good and bad. The phrase suggests that when it comes down to it, we must decide between these two options without any room for compromise or ambiguity.
It’s black or white – you either agree with us entirely or not!
The choice was clear; it was black or white, so I had no other option but to accept the terms they proposed.
- Raise a white flag.
To “raise a white flag” means to surrender or give up. Sometimes it is used figuratively, especially when referring to arguments between people.
They had been going back and forth for hours, but eventually, he raised the white flag and conceded that she was right.
We couldn’t agree on anything, so in the end, I decided to raise a white flag and forget about it.
- Whitewash something.
When you “whitewash something,” it means that you are trying to cover up the truth or make a situation look more positive than it is. Generally, this phrase carries a negative connotation and implies dishonesty.
The government attempted to whitewash reports of police brutality by denying that any human rights violations had occurred.
They tried to whitewash the scandal, but there was too much evidence against them, and they faced legal action.
- To be blue.
When someone is “blue,” it means they are feeling sad or depressed. This expression is usually understood to indicate a deep sadness that might have been brought on by something out of the person’s control and has left them feeling dejected, despondent, and lonely.
After being laid off from her job unexpectedly, she was blue for months.
My grandmother passed away, and I was so blue afterward – it felt like a part of me had gone too.
- To be true blue.
If someone is “true blue,” they are devoted and loyal to a cause or person. It could also refer to somebody who sticks with their principles, no matter what the consequences may be.
My best friend has always been true blue; she has supported me unconditionally during every difficult situation I have ever faced.
Joe was true blue to his country and worked hard to ensure that it had a bright future.
- To be tickled pink.
“Tickled pink” means that someone is delighted about something. Furthermore, the phrase suggests the person was pleasantly surprised and likely overjoyed by whatever happened to them. This expression can also describe somebody who is simply happy with no outside stimuli necessary!
My grandma was tickled pink when I unexpectedly showed up at her door – she gave me a big hug and had tears of joy in her eyes!
I was tickled pink when Jack told me I had gotten the job.
- In the pink of something.
The phrase “in the pink of something” means to be in perfect health or condition. It implies that everything is going well and can also mean “the height of perfection.”
She felt so good that she declared herself in the pink of health!
My career is in the pink of shape right now; I’m so pleased with how well things are going.
- To give someone the green light.
To “give somebody the green light” is to approve something or encourage a person to move forward with their plans. The phrase is derived from the “traffic lights” system, in which a green light signals that it is safe to continue.
We received the go-ahead from our boss, so we have now been given the green light to begin working on this new venture.
The board of directors gave the green light to my proposal, so I am now ready to start implementing it.
- To be green with envy.
The idiom “to be green with envy” describes someone who feels very envious of another person because of the success or good fortune that they have achieved, whether it be material possessions, wealth, or simply happiness. This phrase implies that the feeling is intense and not easy to contain!
My colleague was so green with envy when I got promoted; she didn’t even congratulate me on my success!
John could barely look at me – he was so jealous after hearing about how well my presentation went – he must have been green with envy.
- To be green.
If somebody is “green,” it means they don’t have much experience or knowledge about something. It often refers to being naive and lacking in wisdom as well.
When he started the job, he was still a bit green – inexperienced with the day-to-day tasks but eager to learn.
She was only 23 when she ran for office, and the other candidates were worried that she was too green to handle the job.
- To have a green thumb.
If someone has “a green thumb,” they are very good at caring for plants, and their gardens grow exceptionally well. This expression can also be extended to any activity that requires someone with a natural affinity or skill for it to thrive.
My mom has always had a green thumb; anytime I go home, her garden is full of beautiful blooms!
Lucy has the perfect eye and touches needed for painting – she has more than just a green thumb in art.
- The grass is always greener on the other side.
This idiom refers to the tendency of people to assume that other situations or lifestyles are more desirable than their own. As a result, people often compare their present circumstances with others and feel discontent when they don’t measure up.
Everyone feels like the grass is always greener on the other side, but usually, they just need to take a step back and appreciate what they have.
From her friends’ Facebook posts, it seemed like their lives were perfect, making her feel that the grass was greener on the other side.
- Black and blue.
If someone is “black and blue,” it usually means that they are bruised or have physical injuries. This phrase implies a person has been in a fight or altercation; it can also be used metaphorically to describe emotional hurt.
The boxer was black and blue from all his blows during the match.
The break-up left her feeling completely black and blue – she thought she would never recover from its effects.
- Once in a blue moon.
This expression is used to describe something that doesn’t happen very often. Usually, it implies the event’s occurrence is rare, and a person may have only experienced it once or twice in their lifetime.
We don’t get snow here anymore – I think the last time was once in a blue moon.
My grandma comes over for lunch every few months. She says it’s a once-in-a-blue-moon treat.
- Out of the blue.
“Out of the blue” suggests that something happened unexpectedly. Usually, it implies the thing that occurred was not planned or expected and may have surprised people.
I received a call out of the blue from my old high school – they wanted me to be a speaker at their graduation!
I was about to go for lunch when, out of the blue, it started pouring outside.
- Golden opportunity.
A “golden opportunity” refers to a chance that might not come again in your lifetime, and you should seize it with both hands. In other words, it is a favorable occasion with immense potential – if you let the chance slip away, who knows when something like this will arise again!
The audition was my golden opportunity; I just had to ace it if I wanted to get selected into the program.
Roger sees this as his golden opportunity for success – he must take all steps necessary to ensure nothing goes wrong along the way.
- A golden handshake.
This phrase describes a large sum of money given as compensation for somebody leaving or retiring from their job. It could also incentivize someone to work hard and stay with the company in exchange for a financial reward.
He negotiated himself a golden handshake when his contract was up – it was double what he had expected!
Jack received a generous golden handshake when deciding to call it quits and retire from his job.
- Golden boy.
This phrase is used positively and primarily refers to somebody who has achieved success early on in life. It could imply that the person is talented and has done something amazing, often receiving praise and admiration from others.
He was always considered to be the golden boy of his family – he was bright, talented, and successful in everything he did.
John was the golden boy of his college basketball team, as no one could challenge him on the court.
- To catch someone red-handed.
This color expression describes somebody caught doing something wrong or illegal. The phrase is believed to come from the idea that someone’s hand would be covered in blood if they had just committed a murder.
The evidence proved that he had committed the crime, so there was no way to deny it – he was caught red-handed!
The police caught the thief red-handed, and he was sent to prison for his crime.
- To paint the town red.
If someone “paints the town red,” it usually means that they are enjoying themselves and having a good time by going out and doing exciting things. People may also use this idiom to describe when they are doing something wild and reckless.
Let’s paint the town red; I feel like going out for a night of fun and adventure!
The group went crazy on their last night in Vegas, painting the town red with wild antics.
- To be in the red.
If somebody is “in the red,” it means that their finances are in a bad state or they are not doing well financially. Most likely, they are in debt or don’t have enough money to cover their expenses.
To earn a living, he had to work multiple jobs, and it still wasn’t enough – he ended up being in the red every month.
The business struggled so much that it went into the red; its debts were more than what it made.
- Red tape.
“Red tape” is one of the color expressions used to describe bureaucratic processes that take too long or cause unnecessary delays. It implies the presence of annoying rules and regulations that can make accomplishing something more complicated than it needs to be.
The government was so inefficient and overcrowded with red tape. I had to undergo months of paperwork before finally getting my permit approved.
Harry faced all sorts of hurdles at work – from never-ending red tape procedures, he just wanted out.
- Red-letter day.
A “red-letter day” is a term that describes an especially momentous or important occasion. These days are special because they signify some achievement or success in someone’s life.
Today was a red-letter day for us at the company – we signed our first major deal.
Jill had been waiting eagerly all week for today; it was her red-letter day as she finished college with perfect grades.
- To roll out the red carpet.
“Rolling out the red carpet” describes the special treatment or hospitality that someone receives. Usually, it means going above and beyond to ensure the person or group feels welcomed and appreciated.
The company rolled out the red carpet for all its new hires – they had a fancy welcome lunch with drinks and desserts.
My daughter’s birthday this year was extra special as her friends rolled out the red carpet and gave her a party to remember.
- A red flag.
This phrase indicates a warning or risk. It implies danger in some form, such as an issue that needs to be addressed or something that could potentially cause a problem. The “red flag” is a marker so people can be aware of potential risks.
The suspicious behavior was the first red flag – I knew something wasn’t quite right, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.
I saw some red flags when investing in this stock. The market was too volatile, and there was too much risk for me to decide.
3
Tips for learning phrases with colours
Using idioms is a great way to demonstrate your fluency in the language and make your English conversations more interesting. However, learning these expressions can be tricky! If you are finding it difficult, here are some tips that could help:
- Use dictionaries to find the explanations. To look up the meaning of an idiom, use a dictionary to check what it actually means in context. That way, you can be sure you understand and use the color expression correctly when speaking with others! Some examples are the Merriam-Webster Dictionary and Cambridge Dictionary, both available online.
- Make a list. Write down all the color idioms you come across and use them in writing or speaking practice. Repeating this list in different contexts will help you commit the color phrases to memory.
- Try some mnemonics. Mnemonic devices are very effective in helping us remember certain concepts, ideas, or expressions. Visualize an image that combines color and the idiom to act as a reminder every time you see that color.
- Look for practical examples. Find movies, sitcoms, and songs in English that use color idioms to give you a better understanding of their meaning. Watching them will also help improve your listening skills.
Now that you better understand phrases about colors and how they are used in English take some time to practice your new language skills. Break out of your shell and start using some idioms in conversations with other English speakers to add life and humor to your interactions.
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Conclusion
Colors express so much more than just hues and shades. They can convey emotions and associated tips and metaphors to create colorful turns of phrases like no other language in the world! The color idioms ranging from “being tickled pink” over joyous news to “seeing red” over unwanted advances enable us to express ourselves more vividly than words alone could ever manage.
Start building your English vocabulary by learning some colorful sayings you think are interesting or useful. Then use them whenever appropriate: you’ll be surprised at how quickly you’ll make an impression on those around you!
FAQ
What is an idiomatic expression?
An idiom is a phrase with a figurative meaning that can be understood due to shared cultural understanding. It means that the literal words do not necessarily bear any relation to their actual meaning, but they represent it when used correctly in context.
Is it important to understand and use color idioms?
Using phrases with colors in them is a great way to express yourself more deeply than literal language can, making conversations much more lively. Additionally, knowing these expressions will help you understand them better when hearing or reading them in other contexts, such as movies, songs, or literature.
What are some common color idioms?
Some of the most common phrases with color include “in the red” (to be in debt or to have financial problems), “tickled pink” (to feel delighted, pleased, and deeply content), “green with envy” (to be jealous of someone’s success). Several other expressions include “see red” (becoming very angry towards something/someone) and “white as a sheet/ghost” (to have an extremely pale complexion, usually due to shock).
What can I do to remember color idioms?
The best way to learn and memorize expressions of color is by repetition; go over the list of idioms you want to remember as often as possible. Additionally, use mnemonic devices such as visualizing an image that combines color with its respective expression or phrase to create easy mental associations, which will help jog your memory when needed.
Add colour to the English language by using these wonderful idioms! Keep your fellow students guessing by using a new idiom each day!
Below is a list of idiomatic expressions related to colour:
This “Colour Idioms” image was created by Kaplan International. Click here to see the original article or to discover how you can study English abroad.
BLACK IDIOMS
1. Black and white
To take everything into consideration and oversimplify something. To judge everything as either one way or the other, good or bad.
- Our boss always thinks that everything is straightforward, but he doesn’t realise that this whole situation is not as black and white as he thinks!
2. Put something down in black and white
To write or have something written down on paper for confirmation or evidence
- I don’t understand why you don’t believe me! Look, it’s written here in black and white!
3. Black as night
Somewhere very dark, when it is hard to see anything
- We had another power cut last night; it was as black as night in our house. We didn’t even have any candles!
4. Black and blue
Used to describe something that is badly bruised
- John’s face was black and blue after the boxing match.
5. Black eye
A bruise near one’s eye
- Fred came home with a horrible black eye today, but he won’t tell us what happened!
6. Black out
This means to, either darken by putting out or dimming the lights, or to lose consciousness.
- We had a huge black out here last night, the whole town was out of power for about 7 hours!
- I don’t know what happened to him, he just blacked out! Maybe he banged his head.
7. Black as a skillet
Used to describe something that is very dirty, black with dirt
- My hands and clothes were as black as a skillet, and I was only halfway through cleaning your garage!
8. Black market
A term used for places where goods are illegally bought and sold for a profit.
- Jerry used to sell cigarettes from South America on the black market!
9. Blackball someone
To exclude or ostracise someone socially, reject them
- Their company has been blackballed ever since that scandal was all over the newspapers. No one wants to do business with them anymore.
10. Blacklist someone
To write someone’s name on a list if they break any rules, and ban them from having the opportunity to take part again
- “I was in a lot of debt a while ago, and was unable to pay it all back, so I’ve been blacklisted. I’m not allowed to get a mortgage in my own name.
11. Pot calling the kettle black (shorten version: pot kettle black)
This is used when the person who hypocritically criticises or accuses someone else is as guilty as the person he or she criticises or accuses
- She kept telling me that I shouldn’t do that, but that’s like the pot calling the kettle black, as she does it herself too!
12. Blackmail someone
To extort or take money from someone by using their secrets against them and threatening to reveal it to others
- He has been blackmailing me for months with some photos that I didn’t know he had. I need someone to help me stop him!
13. In someone’s black books
To be in disgrace or in disfavour with someone
- After that argument yesterday, I assure you he will be in a lot of people’s black books for quite some time!
14. Black tie event/affair
A formal event where male guests wear black bow ties with tuxedos or dinner jackets
- The award’s ceremony will be a black tie event, so I’ll have to buy a smart suit. My wife is going to wear her purple ball gown.
15. Black sheep
Used to describe a person who is the ‘odd one out’ of a group, and doesn’t fit in with others around them. This could also be used to talk about someone who is a disgrace or embarrassment to their group.
- I have always been the black sheep in my family, I have a completely different personality to all of them, and we don’t even look the same!
16. In the black
Meaning successful or profitable
- Their company has been in the black ever since the new CEO took over, and changed it all around!
17. Pitch black
Another term for somewhere that is very dark, and you are unable to see anything
- I was afraid to go downstairs, the whole house was pitch black, and very quiet.
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BLUE IDIOMS
18. Out of the blue
To appear out of nowhere without any warning, to happen quite suddenly or randomly by surprise
- You won’t believe it but Sarah called me out of the blue yesterday, and told me she’s coming to visit! How unexpected!
- Greg has decided to quit his job out of the blue, and go travelling for a year!
19. Blue pencil
To censor something, or limit the information that is shared
- The reports about how soldiers were being treated abroad had been blue-pencilled by the authorities.
20. A blue-eyed boy
A critical description of a boy or young man who is always picked for special favours by someone in a position of higher authority.
- He is such a blue-eyed boy! I don’t like that the manager always treats him as if he is special, it is not fair on the rest of us!
21. A bolt from the blue
When some unexpected bad news is received
- It was a complete bolt from the blue for us, we had no idea that they were having problems, let alone getting divorced!
22. Blue blood
Used to describe someone from a noble, aristocratic or wealthy family
- Many of the blue bloods in our town were invited to the royal wedding.
23. Blue ribbon
To be of superior quality or distinction, the best of a group
- A blue ribbon panel of experts were invited to investigate the extraordinary remains.
24. Talk a blue streak
When someone talks very much and very rapidly
- The woman in the hospital bed next to me talked a blue streak all day. I don’t where she got the energy from!
25. Feel blue
When someone looks or feels depressed or discontented
- What’s that the matter with you today? You seem really blue. Is there something you’d like to talk about?
26. Blue in the face
To try really hard to win someone’s agreement, but usually end unsuccessfully
- I kept trying to convince him that it was a good idea until I was blue in the face, but he’s so stubborn, he just kept disagreeing with me!
27. Once in a blue moon
To occur extremely rarely, or only once in a lifetime
- My sister is working in Africa, she hardly ever has the time to call us. My parents only hear from her once in a blue moon.
28. Men/boys in blue
Used to describe the police, because of the colour of their uniforms
- I saw the boys in blue outside our neighbour’s house last night. I hope everything is okay.
29. Blue collar
Used to describe men used as labourers, or factory workers
- The got rid of a lot of the blue-collar workers during the recession. I would say they definitely suffered the most.
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BROWN IDIOMS
30. Browned off
To be bored or annoyed with someone or something
- I’m always browned off when he comes to visit. He doesn’t like doing anything, and he hardly ever talks to anyone!
COLOURLESS IDIOMS
31. To be colourless
Used to describe someone who lacks personality, and is really boring
- It’s really hard to make conversation with her. She’s just really dull and colourless.
32. Off colour
When someone is not feeling their best, quite ill or uneasy
- He’s been really off colour for the past few days, I think I might have to take him to the doctor.
33. To give/lend colour to
To help make a story or an explanation more credible and easier to believe, or accompany something
- The broken window and missing items lent colour to her story that someone had robbed her house.
- The music in the play helped to lend colour to the performance of the actors.
34. Sail under false colours
To pretend to be something that one is not
- Our team leader seems to be sailing under false colours, I don’t think he really understands what he’s supposed to be doing!”
35. Local colour
Used to describe the traditional features of a place that give it its own character
- The weekend vegetable market added much local colour to the small town.
36. A highly coloured report
Refers to a report that is exaggerated or has a biased view
- The highly coloured burglary report had to be rewritten when they found out that the police officer who wrote it was a relative of the family.
37. See someone’s true colours
To understand someone’s actual character, often for the first time
- I thought I knew her so well, but it was only until I asked her for the money she owed me that I saw her true colours.
39. See the colour of someone’s money
To prove that someone has enough money for something
- The antiques dealer wouldn’t let me touch the items I’d agreed to purchase, until he saw the colour of my money.
40. Chase rainbows
When someone tries to get or achieve something that is difficult or impossible
- My brother doesn’t think realistically. He’ll never get a decent job if he just chases rainbows all the time.
41. To show one’s true colours
To reveal one’s true nature
- When he got so angry at her in front of everybody, he showed his true colours.
42. With flying colours
To complete something with great distinction, and excellent results
- I didn’t think she would do so well in the final exam, but she passed it with flying colours!
43. Dyed-in-the-wool
Used to describe someone or something that is permanent (like wool that is dyed a certain colour)
- My father has always been a dyed-in-the-wool conservative, and I know he will never change.
44. To paint in bright/dark colours
To describe something in a flattering (bright) or unflattering (dark) way
- John was struggling financially after moving home, but he painted everything in the brightest colours, and made it look like he was absolutely fine!
- She only painted the venue in dark colours, because she wanted to use it for her wedding, and didn’t want me to book it for my wedding!
45. To be kept in the dark
Keeping a secret from someone, shielding the truth
- He kept everyone in the dark about the true extent of his illness.
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GREEN IDIOMS
46. To be green
Used to describe someone who is immature, or inexperienced
- He can be rather green sometimes. I don’t think he’s ready to be promoted to a higher position yet.
47. Green with envy
Used to describe someone who is extremely jealous, full of envy
- When we were children, my older brother always used to get green with envy if my dad bought something for me and not for him.
48. Give someone the green light / get the green light
When someone receives, or is given, permission to go ahead with something
- We have been given the green the light by the Marketing Executive to go ahead with the new advertising campaign.
49. Grass is always greener on the other side
Used to describe a place that is far away, and better than, where you are now, or another person’s situation that is very different from your own
- He realised that the grass is always greener on the other side when he saw that his new job wasn’t perfect, and had its own problems too.
50. Green belt
An area of fields and trees around a town
- Our city has a policy of increasing the green belt around it.
51. Green thumb/green finger
Used to describe someone with a talent for gardening, having the ability to make plants grow
- This garden used to look so beautiful when my mum lived here. She definitely had a green thumb. I wish I did too!
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GREY IDIOMS
52. A grey area
Something that is not clearly defined, and there is still debate as to whether it is ‘black or white’, neither one way or another
- Some of the current rules surrounding bedroom tax in the UK seem to be in a grey area, as many residents disagree with its determining factors.
GOLD IDIOMS
53. A golden opportunity
An opportunity that may never present itself again
- Think carefully about what you’re going to do, this is a golden opportunity, and you don’t want to mess it up!
54. A golden handshake
A large sum of money that is paid to a retiring manager or director, or to a redundant worker
- The company Chairman received a huge golden handshake when he retired.
55. Golden boy
The term given to a young man idolised for a great skill, usually in sport.
- By many of his fans, Wayne Rooney is seen as the golden boy of his football team.
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PINK IDIOMS
56. Tickled pink
To be very pleased, thrilled or delighted about something
- Anna was tickled pink that her fiancé had made such an effort for her birthday.
57. See pink elephants
When someone sees things that are not really there, because they are in their imagination
- Anyone who hears his story thinks he sees pink elephants. It’s just such a far-fetched story, and very hard to believe.
58. Pink Slip
A termination notice received from a job
- They gave me my pink slip last week, so I’ve got to find a new job now.
59. In the pink of something
Meaning in very good health
- My grandmother looked ever so well when I saw her, she was in the pink of condition.
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RED IDIOMS
60. To be shown the red card
This derives from football terminology, and means to be dismissed from your job
- The company Accountant was shown the red card, after they found out he was using company money for personal gain.
61. To be in the red
To have an overdraft, be in debt to your bank, or owe an institution some money
- I’ve got three credit card bills to pay off at the moment. I hate being in the red!
62. To be out of the red
To be out of debt
- Our company is finally out of the red now. We’ve managed to pay back our loan, and now we’re making profit!
63. A red flag
A signal that something is not working properly or correctly
- The fallen trees along the road raised a red flag for the safety inspectors.
64. Blood red
Used to describe the deep red colour of something
- She was wearing a beautiful cocktail dress with blood red lipstick to match.
65. Beet red
Also used to describe dark red, usually the colour of a face (derives from beetroot)
- I could see my son up on the stage, his little face was beet red!
66. Red hot
Something new and exciting, creating much demand
- The new video game is red-hot. Some fans have been waiting outside stores for days, to get a hold of them!
67. Red herring
An unimportant matter that misleads everyone and draws attention away from the main subject
- Unfortunately that witness was just a red herring. She had no justification to her story, and it was a waste of valuable time.
68. Catch someone red-handed
To catch someone in the act of committing a crime, or doing something wrong that they shouldn’t be doing
- He kept lying to me about where he was going in the evenings, so yesterday I followed him and caught him red-handed. He was with another woman!
69. Red in the face
To become embarrassed
- I went red in the face when the teacher told me off in front of everyone for arriving late!
70. Red-eye
A journey that leaves late at night and arrives early in the morning
- We had to catch the red-eye flight last night, and I’m completely exhausted now.
71. Red-letter day
A day that is memorable because of some important event
- The day I graduated was a red-letter day for my mum, she still talks about it today!
72. To look through rose-coloured/tinted spectacles/glasses
When someone sees things in an overly flattering or over-optimistic light
- Sarah doesn’t understand what it’s like for us. She has always seen everything through rose-tinted glasses because her parents spoilt her so much when she was young!
73. To see red
To react with uncontrollable rage against someone or something
- John saw red when he heard someone shouting at his mother.
74. Red tape
The term used for bureaucratic delay, or excessive formalities, and attention to rules and regulations, often resulting in injustice to the ordinary citizen
- I just want to start my own business, but the amount of red tape involved is so frustrating, that it almost makes me want to give up!
75. To see the red light
To recognise approaching danger. The red light is referred to as a danger signal
- The doctor warned me for so many years that I should stop smoking, but I didn’t listen. When I had a minor heart attack last year, I saw the red light and realised that I had to quit smoking, and improve my health.
76. Paint the town red
To go out and have a really good time at a party
- I’ve managed to get a babysitter for this weekend. Let’s go and paint the town red!
77. Roll out the red carpet
To greet a person with great respect, and give them a big, warm welcome
- When Barack Obama came to visit our school, we rolled out the red carpet for him.
78. Red-carpet treatment
(Similar to the one above) To receive special or royal treatment, and be received with a big, warm welcome
- My aunt always gives us the red-carpet treatment when we go to visit her.
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SILVER IDIOMS
79. The silver screen
A term for the cinema
- Do you fancy going to watch that movie on the silver screen tonight?
80. Born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth
Meaning born into a rich family
- I don’t think Kelly has ever had a job. She was born with a silver spoon in her mouth.
81. To be given something on a silver plate/platter
When something is offered to someone whole-heartedly (in a metaphorical sense)
- I offered my heart to him on a silver platter, and he turned it down.
WHITE IDIOMS
82. As white as a sheet
When someone is in a state of great fear or anxiety
- Harold are you alright? You’re as white as a sheet, what’s the matter?
83. Raise a white flag
This indicates that one has accepted defeat and surrenders to the other party
- There was such a heated debate going on in the conference room, they wouldn’t back down! I just raised my white flag in the end.
84. Whitewash something
To cover up or gloss over faults or wrongdoings
- The government was accused of trying to whitewash the scandal over charity pay-outs.
85. White elephant
A term used for a useless possession, something that is of no use
- My mum bought a new CD player for me, but it’s a white elephant. I don’t need it, I don’t even have any CDs!
86. White as a ghost
Used to describe someone who is very pale because of pain, fear, shock or illness
- I didn’t think the movie was that scary, but my sister was as white as a ghost!
87. A white lie
A ‘little’ or ‘harmless’ lie told in order to be polite and avoid hurting someone’s feelings, or do something that is not seriously wrong
- I just wanted to get out of work so I told my boss a little white lie, and said I had a doctor’s appointment.
88. White collar
A term used for office workers that traditionally wear white shirts with a collar.
- We have a lot of vacancies for white-collar workers at the moment, but hardly anyone is applying for them!
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YELLOW IDIOMS
89. Yellow-bellied
Someone who is seen as a coward or extremely timid
- There is no point in asking him what to do. He is a yellow-bellied coward, and won’t stand up for what is right!
90. A yellow streak
Someone who has cowardice in their character
- He has always had a big yellow streak running down his back, don’t expect him to change now!
Here you will learn 18 colour idioms in English. Tickled pink meaning, red herring meaning, see red meaning and more.
Listen to 2 podcast episodes from Speak Better English with Harry podcast.
Listen to the podcast Speak Better English with Harry or watch it on YouTube at Learn English with Harry. englishclass101
Speak better english with Harry — Podcast Episode 173
list of colour idioms
Harry
Harry is a native English teacher with over 10 years of experience both online and in face-to-face lessons. With his extensive experience in business, he specialises in Business English lessons but happily teaches ESL students with any English learning needs.
18 Colour Idioms in English
Share! Help other students to improve English skills.
Hi there. This is Harry. Welcome back to Speak Better English with Harry podcast where I try to help you understand a little better the use of the English language by helping you and explaining English expressions, idioms, phrasal verbs and business English phrases.
So what do I have for you now? In this post we’re going to look at the colour idioms in English.
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18 Colour Idioms in English
black market
Meaning: buying and selling something illegally, particularly something that is difficult or impossible to obtain otherwise
Example:
His latest movie is not in cinemas yet but I was able to get a copy on the black market.
blackleg
Meaning: somebody who breaks the rules of a strike, somebody who is going against his fellow workers during a strike
If there’s a strike on in the local factory and everybody’s out on strike. They are picketing the factory, so they hope that no workers will cross the picket line. But if somebody crosses the picket line and goes into work because he’s being offered an incentive by the bosses, they call him a blackleg.
Example:
For three months, while the big strike of the engineers was in progress, Green, who was a blackleg, decided to work.
to get the green light
Meaning: to grant or to receive permission to do something
Well, when we’re talking about green light we’re usually referring to traffic lights and then most traffic lights. We have the sequence of red, orange, yellow are orange, yellow and green. Okay, so green is for go. So when you get the green light for a project that means green for go at everybody has agreed to go with it and you can start the project.
Example:
I submitted that project last week and the boss told me today that I got the green light to start. I’m really excited.
to be green with envy
Meaning: to have a desire to have something that somebody else has and wish you would have that
Example:
I was green with envy when I saw John new set of golf clubs.
18 Colour Idioms in English
Share and help other students to improve English skills
grey matter
Meaning: we use this expression to refer to our intellect or our brains
Example:
Why don’t you sit down or spend a few hours or even a night thinking about it using your grey matter.
Why don’t you apply your grey matter to the problem? = Why don’t you think about it?
black and white
Meaning: something that is pretty obvious, something that you can see and understand quite clearly like old-fashioned newspapers
Example:
I think it’s black and white, really. It’s quite easy to understand. It shouldn’t present any problems for anybody.
in the red
Meaning: it’s a reference to our bank accounts. So usually when we’re in the red means we have overdrawn a bank account. We have no money.
Example:
I’m in the red again. It always happens to me in the last few days of the month.
18 Colour Idioms in English
off colour
Meaning: feeling a little unwell
Example:
What’s wrong with you today? You look a little off colour.
When somebody is off colour they are not quite themselves.
once in a blue moon
Meaning: something that doesn’t happen so frequently something that doesn’t happen so often
Example:
I used to read newspapers a lot but now only get it once in a blue moon.
to paint the town red
Meaning: to go a little bit wild, to have a bit of a party and have a bit of fun
Example:
When quarantine is over, I’ll take you out and we’ll paint the town red.
red herring
Meaning: something that diverts your attention from the issue you should be concentrating on, something unimportant that distracts you
Example:
The process itself was a red herring that is unlikely to ever materialise.
We thought that was a red herring and that Claire was lying to cover up the real situation.
Red Herring Meaning
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red-letter day
Meaning: a really important day, a day when something really important is going to happen
Example:
The day Paul got promoted in the army was a red-letter day for him.
to see red
Meaning: to get really annoyed or angry or frustrated
Example:
Jack saw red when he caught his ex-wife in the arms of another man.
to be tickled pink
Meaning: to be very happy, very pleased or to be delighted with something
Example:
My mother was really tickled pink when she got flowers and chocolates on Mother’s Day.
Tickled Pink Meaning
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a white elephant
Meaning: something that is a waste of time, waste of money, something useless, unwanted or of no great value
Example:
The new factory was a white elephant project constructed at a massive cost and designed to fail.
a white-collar worker
Meaning: office workes not doing any physical work
It is a throwback to the old days of the industrial Revolution when the management wore white colours on their shirt. These were the days when the shirts had a detachable collar so you could wash and starch the colour separately to the shirt. So management, those in the offices had white colours on. And the ordinary workers had a blue collar. So it was the distinguished between the workers and the management.
Example:
Usually, white-collar workers are entitled to continued remuneration in the event of sickness.
to whitewash
Meaning: to cover up, to hide something, to try and avoid something being noticed.
Example:
The money spent on that new monument in the centre of town was a complete waste of time. I guarantee that the government would try to whitewash over that.
with flying colours
Meaning: to be really, really successful
Example:
He passed his exams with flying colours.
Probation was not a problem for him, he passed it with flying colours.
So that’s that’s our colour idioms in English.I’ll give them to you once more:
- black market
- blackleg
- to get the green light
- to be green with envy
- grey matter
- black and white
- in the red
- off-colour
- once in a blue moon
- paint the town red
- red herring
- red-letter day
- to see red
- to be tickled pink
- white elephant
- a white-collar worker
- to whitewash
- with flying colours
If you want to contact me, I’m always happy to hear from you. Please include some of your suggestions. Talk to you soon.
18 Colour Idioms in English
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English Vocabulary
English Idioms
Ask about English
Sabina Buribaeva, form 8
School №2, Baymak
Scientific adviser:
A.A.Syrlybaeva, a teacher of English
School №2, Baymak
Colours in English
idioms.
In our time, learning English
as a language of international communication has become a necessity. It is
difficult to name the scope of human activity, where English is not used. When
studying it, reading fiction in the original, as well as in speech, we often
come across phraseological idioms, or idioms, which can be difficult to
understand, despite the fact that we know the translation of each word. In
English there are more than 15,000 idioms, which are studied by linguistic
scientists and collected in special dictionaries. The relevance of this study
is that the knowledge of stable expressions of the English language and their
use in oral and written speech makes it possible to make it more natural,
beautiful and expressive. The understanding of phraseological units in reading
fiction, in conversation, in writing, is an indication of the level of language
proficiency.
The purpose of this work is to study
English idioms with a color component. This group of idioms is of greatest
interest to us, since the concept of color exists in every culture, with its
important information accumulated by the people, and the meaning of colors is
not always the same for different peoples.
To achieve the goal, we set ourselves the
following tasks:
1. To study the theoretical material on
the research topic;
2.To identify idiomatic expressions with
a colorative component, using special dictionaries.
3.To investigate the level of
understanding and use in the speech of English idioms by high school students.
4.To develop a dictionary — a memo
«Colored idioms», with the purpose of placing it on the official
website of the school and in the offices of a foreign language.
The object of the study are idiomatic
expressions of the English language.
The subject of the study are the values
of idioms with the color designation and their use in speech, as well as the
level of knowledge and possession of them by high school students.
Research hypothesis is schoolchildren
rarely use the idioms of the English language due to the fact that it is very
difficult to catch the meaning of the expressions.
Methods of research are analysis
of scientific literature, descriptive and comparative methods, questioning of
students.
The practical importance of this work lies
in the possibility of its use by students in English lessons, in preparation
for competitions and olympiads, as well as teachers of the English language. In
addition, the proposed material can be used by those wishing to expand and
deepen their knowledge in the language.
1. The concept, characteristics and
classification of idiomatic expressions
The word «idiom» comes from
the Greek «idίōma», which means «singularity,
originality.» In the modern dictionary of foreign words, the following
concept is given: an idiom is an indecomposable word only to a given language,
the meaning of which is not determined by the separate meanings of the words
entering into it. That is, an idiom is a phrase or expression in which words
used together have a definite meaning. Many idioms have similar meanings in
other languages, but there are idioms that are formed under the influence of
certain national and cultural features of the language, so they do not have an
equivalent in other languages. Linguists pay much attention to the cumulative
ability of idioms. Idioms, in comparison with other linguistic units,
accumulate more historical and cultural realities of the nation, traditions,
customs.
The study of absolutely all idioms is not
possible, therefore we have chosen the aim of our work to study idiomatic
expressions with a colorative component. This group of idioms is of greatest
interest to us, since the concept of color exists in every culture, with it is
important information accumulated by the people, and the meaning of colors is
not always the same for different people.
2. Idioms with a
color component Red
To be in the red
Literal translation is to bear losses,
have financial problems. The origin of this idiom is directly related to the
use of red ink by accountants when balancing. They redeemed the debts of their
customers in red, so the expression to be in the red became associated with a
difficult financial situation and debts. Accordingly, the phrase «to be
out the red» says that financial problems are resolved or a debt is paid.
Example: Being in the red we had to put off the purchase of a house. (We had to
postpone the purchase of the house because of financial problems).
A red-letter day
Literal translation is the day of the red
letter: a holiday, a memorable day. The origin of this idiom has come from the
tradition of highlighting the red days of holidays in the calendar. In Russian
there is an analogue of this idiom — «Red day of the calendar».
Example: It was a holiday for Richard, since nobody bothered him. The word red
is found in many other idiomatic expressions, such as to see red, red-herring,
red-blooded.
Blue
The phrase» once in a blue moon»
means extremely rare. Such a phenomenon as the blue moon happens very rarely,
hence the origin of the expression once in a blue moon. In Russian, to denote
an event that happens very rarely, there is an expression «for some
time». Example: Once in a blue moon he called his mother (For some reason
he called his mother).
Blue collar
The phrase» blue collar» means
working class. This expression emerged from the color of the blue uniform worn
by workers engaged in heavy physical labor. White collar expressions are also
used to refer to clerks, office employees engaged in mental work, pink collar —
servants of the service sector. Example: His father was a blue collar worker
(His father was a worker).
Black
To be in the black means do not have
debts. This expression is related to the idiom to be in the red and is inverse
in meaning. Black ink in the accounts of the customer’s income was allocated.
Example: Our business has been in the black for five years (Our business has
been making a profit for five years already).
White
The phrase» a white elephant»
means to be of the burden, burdensome or ruinous property. The origin of the
expression is connected with the legend according to which the King of Siam
gave the faces of a white elephant objectionable to him. White elephants were
considered sacred animals and were not used as workers. The cost of keeping an
elephant ruined the recipient of such a gift. The Russian equivalent is the
expression «a suitcase without a handle». Example: We are having a
white elephant sale at school next week (Next week the school will sell off
unnecessary things).
Practical part
Investigating the understanding of
English idioms by students
To understand the meaning of English
idioms, as well as the frequency of their use in speech, we conducted a
questionnaire among students of 9th, 10th and 11th grades of our school. The
number of respondents was 40 people. We offered the students 8 English idioms
and asked them to write down the idioms in Russian, and also indicate how often
they use them in oral and written speech:
1.to be in red — be in a difficult
financial situation
2. as white as sheet — pale about fear or
horror
3. a gray area — something indefinite
4. blue devils — longing, melancholy
5. black sheep — «white crow»,
«black sheep»
6. a red eye — a night voyage
7. a heart of gold — a man with a heart
of gold
8. blue blood — belonging to the
aristocracy of the survey
The results showed that the students
were able to translate the proposed idioms into Russian, as they knew the words
included in their composition, but the true meaning of these idioms is known to
a small number of students. After studying the theoretical material and the
results of our questionnaire, we began to develop a memo. In our opinion, the
memo contains useful information for students of English.
Conclusion
The use of idiomatic expressions in
speech makes it more expressive, vivid and rich. Having a rich stock of idioms
in his vocabulary, it is possible not only to understand the meaning of the
statement, its stylistic and emotional coloring, but it is also possible to
enrich your speech, make it more natural, which will certainly facilitate
communication with foreign colleagues and friends. In addition, we managed to
prove by examples that the literal translation of an expression is often wrong
and unacceptable. As a result of a questionnaire conducted by us in order to
find out how senior students of the English language are familiar with the
idioms of the English language, we found that students experience considerable
difficulties in translating idiomatic expressions with a color-coding component
(especially partial equivalents and equivalent-equivalent phraseological
units). Most respondents could verbally translate phraseological units, but
could not determine their significance. The students of our school very rarely
use English idioms in their speech, because they find it difficult to
understand the meaning of the expressions, which confirms our hypothesis.
Literature
1. Vinogradov. V.V. On the main
types of phraseological units in the Russian language [text] // Dubrovin MI
Russian and English idioms .- M., 2001.- 140-161 sec.
2. Goldenkov, MA, Watch out! HOT DOG!
Modern active English, Moscow, 2004. — 272
Идиомы с названиями цветов – не редкость в английском языке. Знать их и употреблять в речи – прерогатива истинных ценителей языка. Предлагаю вам ознакомиться со списком цветных устойчивых выражений. Для удобства все идиомы разбиты по цветам. Попрактиковаться в употреблении идиом вы сможете, выполнив следующие упражнения.
Green
Green winter – бесснежная зима;
In the green – в расцвете сил;
To have a green thumb – быть талантливым садоводом;
The green light – разрешение;
Green with envy – завистливый;
Green-eyed monster – ревность;
To be green about the gills – побледнеть.
Red
Red with anger – побагроветь от гнева;
The Reds – индейцы;
To paint the town red – продолжать попойку;
To see red – разозлиться, прийти в ярость;
To be in the red – быть в долгах;
To be/get out of the red – расплатится с долгами;
Red herring – обманный маневр;
Red carpet – радушный прием;
To roll out the red carpet – оказать теплый прием;
Red tape – волокита, бюрократизм;
To catch smb. red-handed – поймать с поличным;
Red-letter day – праздничный день.
Ginger
A ginger group – группа активистов.
Pink
In the pink — в добром здравии;
Pink slip – уведомление об увольнении;
To see pink elephants – видеть галлюцинации, галлюцинировать;
Tickled pink –удовлетворенный, польщенный;
The pink of perfection – верх совершенства.
Rose
To see life through rose-coloured glasses – видеть жизнь в розовом цвете, быть оптимистом
White
White coffee – кофе с молоком;
White lie – безвредная ложь;
White fury – неистовство;
White night – ночь без сна;
To stand in a white sheet – публично каяться;
White horses – барашки (на море);
White-collar worker – работник офиса;
White-collar crime – должностное преступление;
White elephant – обременительное или разорительное имущество;
To show the white feather – проявить малодушие, струсить.
Blue
Blue-ribbon – исключительный, самый лучший;
Blue devils – меланхолия, тоска;
As blue as the devil – грустный, угрюмый;
Till one is blue in the face – долго и безуспешно;
To talk a blue streak – тараторить, много болтать;
Out of the blue – неожиданно;
Like a bolt out of the blue – внезапно;
Black and blue – в ушибах, синяках;
To be in a blue funk – тосковать;
To make/ turn the air blue – сквернословить, ругаться;
Once in a blue moon – очень редко;
To drink till all’s blue – допиться до белой горячки;
To blue money – транжирить деньги.
Black
The black sheep – изгой, тот, кого не любят, презирают;
A black eye – синяк под глазом;
To be in the black – быть финансово независимым, стабильным;
Black look – хмурый, недобрый взгляд;
Black and blue – в ушибах, синяках;
Black art – черная магия;
Black pudding – кровяная колбаса;
Black spot – опасное место на дороге.
Yellow
To have a yellow streak – струсить;
Yellow look – завистливый взгляд;
The yellow press – желтая пресса;
Yellow flag – карантинный флаг;
Yellow dog – подлый человек, неприятная личность, трус.
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To catch someone red-handed
To discover someone in the act of doing something wrong.
News anchor: ‘The police caught the jewel thief red-handed deep in the shop’s vault, holding over £1m of jewels’.
Grey area
An ill-defined (unclear) situation that does not have a clear answer or outcome.
The legal battle is centred on a grey area, neither party is able to provide conclusive evidence that proves their point.
Black or white
Very clearly defined.
This is very black or white, she either did or she did not eat your cake, you can’t say maybe!
To give the green light
Give the go-ahead/permission.
The MD has given the green light for the launch of the new product in August.
In the red
To be in debt or at a loss
The company’s finances were in the red for months before they declared bankruptcy.
Once in a blue moon
A very rare occurrence.
For example, ‘we go on holiday once in a blue moon. Not never, but not very often at all’.
Out of the blue
A completely unexpected event/to appear from nowhere.
The knockout punch came out of the blue and struck him on the side of the jaw.
Red tape
Formal rules, processes, or boundaries that prevent or slow down something you are trying to achieve.
It took ages to get a working visa because of all the red tape you have to get through.
Rose-tinted glasses
To look at something with an unrealistic or unfairly positive bias, perhaps only seeing or paying attention to the good things.
‘I have lots of fond memories of school and can’t remember the bad parts. I suppose I look back at it through rose-tinted glasses’.
Thanks to Stumbleupon, I discovered another great website which includes all the idioms and phrases related to different colors. This piece of information is created by Alan S. Kennedy and he listed all the idioms and phrases, language by language and color by color. You can find tens of languages on the web site but I paste here only the English ones because it is our common point. Since it is a project, I kind of tend to trust it more compared to bilingual online dictionaries 🙂 Maybe I am wrong, I do not know. You can also consult this website when you have a doubt while translating a phrase including colors. I am sure, you will find many idioms/phrases that surprise you. I learned many interesting stuff from this website. I hope you also like it and contribute with your comments.
|
white noise |
static noise |
|
white as a sheet |
scared, sick, surprised |
|
white as a ghost |
scared |
|
white-collar |
related to “desk jobs” |
|
a white flag |
surrender |
|
to whitewash something |
to mask the negative parts |
|
white wine |
wine from green or yellow grapes |
|
a white Christmas |
snow on Christmas day |
|
a white wedding |
a traditional western-style wedding where the bride wears a white gown |
|
a white person |
a person of Caucasian race |
|
white-hot |
extremely hot OR popular |
|
a white paper |
an authoritative report on a issue |
|
a white elephant |
a useless knick-knack OR an expensive, useless thing |
|
white as the driven snow |
innocent (often used sarcastically about corruption) |
|
white with rage |
extremely enraged |
|
to bleed someone white |
to take everything someone has, esp. money |
|
showing the white feather |
acting cowardly |
|
a white-knuckle ride |
a dangerous, nerve-wracking, scary ride |
|
that’s mighty white of you (old-fashioned) |
that’s good of you |
|
lily-white |
unmistakably Caucasian OR blameless, goodly |
|
white horses (surfing) |
patches of white foam made by breaking waves |
|
white trash (American) |
(offensive) uneducated, socio-economically disadvantaged Caucasian people |
|
whiter than white (British) |
righteous, innocent |
|
a white pointer (Australian) |
a topless female sunbather |
|
to blackmail someone |
to threaten to reveal secrets unless payment is made |
|
black magic / the black arts |
magic used for malevolent purposes |
|
the pot calling the kettle black |
someone criticizing someone else for a quality they themselves possess |
|
the black market |
illegal/underground sales and purchases |
|
little black book |
book of contacts, esp. past or potential dates |
|
a black sheep |
the outcast or disgrace in a group |
|
black tie |
formal clothing e.g. a tuxedo |
|
black humor |
jokes about death or illness |
|
a black day |
a day when something bad happens |
|
to be in black and white |
to be written down officially |
|
to be black and white (a situation) |
to be clear |
|
in the black |
profitable |
|
a black mood |
a bad, grumpy mood |
|
a black eye |
a bruised eye |
|
to blacklist someone |
to prevent someone from being hired |
|
to blackball someone |
to shut someone out from group participation |
|
black and blue |
bruised |
|
a black look |
an angry/disapproving facial expression |
|
as black as night |
very dark black |
|
pitch black |
very dark black |
|
a black person |
a person of African heritage |
|
black ops |
extralegal covert activity, done in the dark (military/politics) |
|
black-hearted |
cruel, evil, mean |
|
a black mark |
an indication of wrongdoing |
|
to blacken someon’es name |
to suggest/indicate a person’s wrongdoing |
|
the Black Death |
The Bubonic Plague |
|
Black Friday (U.S.) |
The day after American Thanksgiving when many stores have sales |
|
the black dog (Irish) |
a bad mood |
|
beyond the black stump (Australian) |
the back of nowhere, far from anything |
|
in the red |
unproftable OR negative financial balance, owing money |
|
a redhead |
a person with orange-colored hair |
|
red light district |
area with prostitutes |
|
to see red |
to be furious |
|
red with rage |
furious |
|
to turn/go red |
become embarassed |
|
a red herring |
a false clue |
|
to paint the town red |
to dine, dance, experience fun in a town or city |
|
a red flag |
a signal that something is wrong |
|
roll out the red carpet |
give a big welcome |
|
red tape |
unnecessary/excessive bureaucracy |
|
not one red cent |
no money at all |
|
a red letter day |
a special day |
|
a scarlet woman |
a sinful woman |
|
scarlet fever |
an infection with group A streptococcus bacteria. |
|
red-hot |
very hot OR very popular |
|
red card |
(soccer) to give someone their final warning |
|
red alert |
a serious warning of danger |
|
a red-blooded male |
a virile, manly male person |
|
like a red rag/flag to a bull |
provoking/aggravating anger |
|
red (adjective) |
communist |
|
bleed red ink (British) |
debt |
|
red in tooth and claw (British) |
the wild, violent aspect of the natural world |
|
redshirting (U.S.) |
delaying an athlete’s participation in sports order to lengthen his/her period of eligibility |
|
a red state (U.S.) |
a state whose residents are politically more Republican |
|
a redneck (U.S.) |
an uneducated, rural white American |
|
a red-bone (U.S.) |
a light-skinned black woman |
|
the red eye (U.S.) |
the overnight flight between west and east coast |
|
green with envy |
very envious |
|
the green-eyed monster |
jealousy |
|
to give the green light |
to give approval to proceed |
|
to be green (in a position) |
to be inexperienced, a rookie |
|
to be green (policy) |
to be environmentally aware |
|
the green room |
room in a theater or studio where guests/performers wait to go on |
|
to turn green |
to be naseous |
|
green around the gills |
sick-looking |
|
a greenbelt |
an area of nature around a city |
|
greens |
vegetables |
|
a green |
a golf course |
|
a greengrocer |
a person/store that sells vegetables & fruit |
|
the grass is always greener on the other side |
other people’s possessions/situations always seem better than your own |
|
to greenwash something |
to deceptively make practices/policies seem more environmentally friendly |
|
little green men |
stereotypical/humorous description of space aliens |
|
as sure as God made little green apples |
very certain |
|
colorless green ideas sleep furiously |
(Linguistics) Noam Chomsky’s oft-quoted example of a sentence with good grammar but no meaning |
|
to have green fingers (British) |
to be good with plants/gardens |
|
to have a green thumb (U.S.) |
to be good with plants/gardens |
|
a greenie (Australian) |
an environmentally aware person |
|
a green card (U.S.) |
legal residency staus |
|
a greenhorn (U.S.) |
an inexperienced or young person |
|
greenbacks (U.S.) |
dollars |
|
yellow |
cowardly |
|
a yellow streak |
cowardice |
|
yellow-bellied |
cowardly |
|
yellow journalism |
disreputable, sensationalistic journalism |
|
a yellow card |
(soccer) to give someone a first warning |
|
the yellow peril |
(offensive, archaic) the fear that Asian people will outnumber/displace Caucasian people |
|
a yellow dog Democrat (U.S.) |
a voter who always votes Democrat in every election |
|
out of the blue |
suddenly, unexpectedly |
|
a bolt from the blue |
a sudden/unexpected thing |
|
to be blue |
to be sad |
|
a blue funk |
a feeling of melancholy |
|
the blues |
sadness OR a 3 chord style of music |
|
once in a blue moon |
infrequently |
|
blue-collar |
related to manual labor or the working class |
|
a blue blood |
an aristocratic person |
|
to talk a blue streak |
to talk a lot |
|
to turn blue |
to have difficulty breathing |
|
blue with cold |
feeling very cold |
|
until you’re blue in the face |
having lost your patience |
|
blue chip stock |
stock of an established/finanically sound company |
|
working blue |
performing using foul language |
|
a blue movie |
a pornographic film |
|
a blueprint (for something) |
a design, a guide |
|
true blue |
faithful |
|
blue on blue |
in military: friendly fire |
|
into the wide/wild blue yonder |
to an unknown/faraway place |
|
blue balls (lewd) |
male sexual frustration due to unfulfilled sexual urges |
|
to turn the air blue |
to swear a lot |
|
between the devil and the deep blue sea |
a dilemma |
|
the boys in blue |
the police |
|
the thin blue line |
the police |
|
a blue state (U.S.) |
a state whose residents are politically more Democrat |
|
a blue (British) |
a Tory |
|
to scream blue muder (British) |
to express yourself angrily |
|
a blue-eyed boy (British) |
a male who can do no wrong, who is favored by authority |
|
having a blue (Australian) |
having a fight |
|
make a blue (Australian) |
make a mistake |
|
a brown-noser |
a sycophant |
|
in a brown study |
being contemplative; daydreaming |
|
browned off (British) |
annoyed |
|
purple prose |
flowery, romantic writing |
|
born in the purple |
born into a high ranking/aristocratic family |
|
the Purple Heart (U.S.) |
a U.S. military honor badge |
|
a purple patch (British) |
a period of exceptionally high achievement |
|
agent orange |
a defoliant used in herbicidal warfare |
|
Orangemen (Irish) |
Protestant fraternal organization |
|
in the pink of health |
very healthy |
|
tickled pink |
very pleased |
|
a pinko |
a communist |
|
to see the world through rose-colored glasses |
to see the world through an optimistic filter |
|
rosy |
positive, optimistic, |
|
to get a pink slip |
to be fired |
|
the pink pound (British) |
consumer spending by gay people |
|
grey area |
unclear |
|
grey matter |
the brain |
|
to give someone grey hairs |
to try someone’s patience |
|
gray market |
sale of products via nonstandard distribution channels or at an unofficial price |
|
grey nomads (Australian) |
retirees who travel around the country |
|
the silver screen |
the movies |
|
a golden boy |
a well-regarded, successful man |
|
a golden handshake |
monetary incentive to join a company |
|
a golden parachute |
money given to an executive leaving a company |
|
golden ears |
great listening ability to discern quality or commerciality |
|
a golden shower (lewd) |
urinating on a sexual partner |
|
a golden mean |
the desirable middle (between extremes of excess and deficiency) |
|
off-color |
inappropriate, crude |
|
to show your true colors |
to reveal your true self or feelings |
|
a colorless person |
a boring person |
|
colorful (e.g. tale, history, life) |
event-filled and interesting |
|
colorful language |
vivid or expletive-filled language |
|
to pass with flying colors |
to do very well |
|
local color |
having typical characteristics of the local area |
|
color commentary |
facts & comments about athletes during a broadcast |
|
a horse of a different color |
a completely different thing/idea |
|
a country’s colors |
the colors of a national flag |
For other languages and for the rest of the list, click here.
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|
white noise |
static noise |
|
white as a sheet |
scared, sick, surprised |
|
white as a ghost |
scared |
|
white-collar |
related to “desk jobs” |
|
a white flag |
surrender |
|
to whitewash something |
to mask the negative parts |
|
white wine |
wine from green or yellow grapes |
|
a white Christmas |
snow on Christmas day |
|
a white wedding |
a traditional western-style wedding where the bride wears a white gown |
|
a white person |
a person of Caucasian race |
|
white-hot |
extremely hot OR popular |
|
a white paper |
an authoritative report on a issue |
|
a white elephant |
a useless knick-knack OR an expensive, useless thing |
|
white as the driven snow |
innocent (often used sarcastically about corruption) |
|
white with rage |
extremely enraged |
|
to bleed someone white |
to take everything someone has, esp. money |
|
showing the white feather |
acting cowardly |
|
a white-knuckle ride |
a dangerous, nerve-wracking, scary ride |
|
that’s mighty white of you (old-fashioned) |
that’s good of you |
|
lily-white |
unmistakably Caucasian OR blameless, goodly |
|
white horses (surfing) |
patches of white foam made by breaking waves |
|
white trash (American) |
(offensive) uneducated, socio-economically disadvantaged Caucasian people |
|
whiter than white (British) |
righteous, innocent |
|
a white pointer (Australian) |
a topless female sunbather |
|
to blackmail someone |
to threaten to reveal secrets unless payment is made |
|
black magic / the black arts |
magic used for malevolent purposes |
|
the pot calling the kettle black |
someone criticizing someone else for a quality they themselves possess |
|
the black market |
illegal/underground sales and purchases |
|
little black book |
book of contacts, esp. past or potential dates |
|
a black sheep |
the outcast or disgrace in a group |
|
black tie |
formal clothing e.g. a tuxedo |
|
black humor |
jokes about death or illness |
|
a black day |
a day when something bad happens |
|
to be in black and white |
to be written down officially |
|
to be black and white (a situation) |
to be clear |
|
in the black |
profitable |
|
a black mood |
a bad, grumpy mood |
|
a black eye |
a bruised eye |
|
to blacklist someone |
to prevent someone from being hired |
|
to blackball someone |
to shut someone out from group participation |
|
black and blue |
bruised |
|
a black look |
an angry/disapproving facial expression |
|
as black as night |
very dark black |
|
pitch black |
very dark black |
|
a black person |
a person of African heritage |
|
black ops |
extralegal covert activity, done in the dark (military/politics) |
|
black-hearted |
cruel, evil, mean |
|
a black mark |
an indication of wrongdoing |
|
to blacken someon’es name |
to suggest/indicate a person’s wrongdoing |
|
the Black Death |
The Bubonic Plague |
|
Black Friday (U.S.) |
The day after American Thanksgiving when many stores have sales |
|
the black dog (Irish) |
a bad mood |
|
beyond the black stump (Australian) |
the back of nowhere, far from anything |
|
in the red |
unproftable OR negative financial balance, owing money |
|
a redhead |
a person with orange-colored hair |
|
red light district |
area with prostitutes |
|
to see red |
to be furious |
|
red with rage |
furious |
|
to turn/go red |
become embarassed |
|
a red herring |
a false clue |
|
to paint the town red |
to dine, dance, experience fun in a town or city |
|
a red flag |
a signal that something is wrong |
|
roll out the red carpet |
give a big welcome |
|
red tape |
unnecessary/excessive bureaucracy |
|
not one red cent |
no money at all |
|
a red letter day |
a special day |
|
a scarlet woman |
a sinful woman |
|
scarlet fever |
an infection with group A streptococcus bacteria. |
|
red-hot |
very hot OR very popular |
|
red card |
(soccer) to give someone their final warning |
|
red alert |
a serious warning of danger |
|
a red-blooded male |
a virile, manly male person |
|
like a red rag/flag to a bull |
provoking/aggravating anger |
|
red (adjective) |
communist |
|
bleed red ink (British) |
debt |
|
red in tooth and claw (British) |
the wild, violent aspect of the natural world |
|
redshirting (U.S.) |
delaying an athlete’s participation in sports order to lengthen his/her period of eligibility |
|
a red state (U.S.) |
a state whose residents are politically more Republican |
|
a redneck (U.S.) |
an uneducated, rural white American |
|
a red-bone (U.S.) |
a light-skinned black woman |
|
the red eye (U.S.) |
the overnight flight between west and east coast |
|
green with envy |
very envious |
|
the green-eyed monster |
jealousy |
|
to give the green light |
to give approval to proceed |
|
to be green (in a position) |
to be inexperienced, a rookie |
|
to be green (policy) |
to be environmentally aware |
|
the green room |
room in a theater or studio where guests/performers wait to go on |
|
to turn green |
to be naseous |
|
green around the gills |
sick-looking |
|
a greenbelt |
an area of nature around a city |
|
greens |
vegetables |
|
a green |
a golf course |
|
a greengrocer |
a person/store that sells vegetables & fruit |
|
the grass is always greener on the other side |
other people’s possessions/situations always seem better than your own |
|
to greenwash something |
to deceptively make practices/policies seem more environmentally friendly |
|
little green men |
stereotypical/humorous description of space aliens |
|
as sure as God made little green apples |
very certain |
|
colorless green ideas sleep furiously |
(Linguistics) Noam Chomsky’s oft-quoted example of a sentence with good grammar but no meaning |
|
to have green fingers (British) |
to be good with plants/gardens |
|
to have a green thumb (U.S.) |
to be good with plants/gardens |
|
a greenie (Australian) |
an environmentally aware person |
|
a green card (U.S.) |
legal residency staus |
|
a greenhorn (U.S.) |
an inexperienced or young person |
|
greenbacks (U.S.) |
dollars |
|
yellow |
cowardly |
|
a yellow streak |
cowardice |
|
yellow-bellied |
cowardly |
|
yellow journalism |
disreputable, sensationalistic journalism |
|
a yellow card |
(soccer) to give someone a first warning |
|
the yellow peril |
(offensive, archaic) the fear that Asian people will outnumber/displace Caucasian people |
|
a yellow dog Democrat (U.S.) |
a voter who always votes Democrat in every election |
|
out of the blue |
suddenly, unexpectedly |
|
a bolt from the blue |
a sudden/unexpected thing |
|
to be blue |
to be sad |
|
a blue funk |
a feeling of melancholy |
|
the blues |
sadness OR a 3 chord style of music |
|
once in a blue moon |
infrequently |
|
blue-collar |
related to manual labor or the working class |
|
a blue blood |
an aristocratic person |
|
to talk a blue streak |
to talk a lot |
|
to turn blue |
to have difficulty breathing |
|
blue with cold |
feeling very cold |
|
until you’re blue in the face |
having lost your patience |
|
blue chip stock |
stock of an established/finanically sound company |
|
working blue |
performing using foul language |
|
a blue movie |
a pornographic film |
|
a blueprint (for something) |
a design, a guide |
|
true blue |
faithful |
|
blue on blue |
in military: friendly fire |
|
into the wide/wild blue yonder |
to an unknown/faraway place |
|
blue balls (lewd) |
male sexual frustration due to unfulfilled sexual urges |
|
to turn the air blue |
to swear a lot |
|
between the devil and the deep blue sea |
a dilemma |
|
the boys in blue |
the police |
|
the thin blue line |
the police |
|
a blue state (U.S.) |
a state whose residents are politically more Democrat |
|
a blue (British) |
a Tory |
|
to scream blue muder (British) |
to express yourself angrily |
|
a blue-eyed boy (British) |
a male who can do no wrong, who is favored by authority |
|
having a blue (Australian) |
having a fight |
|
make a blue (Australian) |
make a mistake |
|
a brown-noser |
a sycophant |
|
in a brown study |
being contemplative; daydreaming |
|
browned off (British) |
annoyed |
|
purple prose |
flowery, romantic writing |
|
born in the purple |
born into a high ranking/aristocratic family |
|
the Purple Heart (U.S.) |
a U.S. military honor badge |
|
a purple patch (British) |
a period of exceptionally high achievement |
|
agent orange |
a defoliant used in herbicidal warfare |
|
Orangemen (Irish) |
Protestant fraternal organization |
|
in the pink of health |
very healthy |
|
tickled pink |
very pleased |
|
a pinko |
a communist |
|
to see the world through rose-colored glasses |
to see the world through an optimistic filter |
|
rosy |
positive, optimistic, |
|
to get a pink slip |
to be fired |
|
the pink pound (British) |
consumer spending by gay people |
|
grey area |
unclear |
|
grey matter |
the brain |
|
to give someone grey hairs |
to try someone’s patience |
|
gray market |
sale of products via nonstandard distribution channels or at an unofficial price |
|
grey nomads (Australian) |
retirees who travel around the country |
|
the silver screen |
the movies |
|
a golden boy |
a well-regarded, successful man |
|
a golden handshake |
monetary incentive to join a company |
|
a golden parachute |
money given to an executive leaving a company |
|
golden ears |
great listening ability to discern quality or commerciality |
|
a golden shower (lewd) |
urinating on a sexual partner |
|
a golden mean |
the desirable middle (between extremes of excess and deficiency) |
|
off-color |
inappropriate, crude |
|
to show your true colors |
to reveal your true self or feelings |
|
a colorless person |
a boring person |
|
colorful (e.g. tale, history, life) |
event-filled and interesting |
|
colorful language |
vivid or expletive-filled language |
|
to pass with flying colors |
to do very well |
|
local color |
having typical characteristics of the local area |
|
color commentary |
facts & comments about athletes during a broadcast |
|
a horse of a different color |
a completely different thing/idea |
|
a country’s colors |
the colors of a national flag |
Complete sentences 1 – 34 with one of the
colours from the box. Each colour can be used to complete or make an idiom or
other expression (in bold). Some of the colours have to be used more
than once. Each idiom is explained in the answer key at the back of the book.
1
Elsa congratulated me on getting the
job, but I could tell that secretly she was _____ with envy.
2
Generally I’m a very calm, relaxed
person. But when people are rude to me, I start to see _____.
3
I very rarely see my parents these
days. They only come to visit once in a _____ moon.
4
Everyone in my family is a teacher, but
I decided from a young age that I wanted to be an actor. I guess I’ve always
been the _____
sheep.
5
My wife asked me if I liked her new
dress. Well, I thought it was horrible, but of course I told her it looked
wonderful. You have to tell a little _____ lie from time to time, don’t you?
6
I hate applying for a new passport.
There’s so much _____
tape involved.
7
You can ask me to lend you money until you’re _____ in the face,
but my answer is still ‘No’.
8
When Maria was attacked in the street,
instead of running away she started screaming _____ murder until someone
came to her help.
9
The best way to stay in the _____ is to
eat sensibly, take regular exercise, drink in moderation and not smoke.
10
I think the new underground railway is a _____ elephant. The
city already has a very efficient bus and tram system.
11
Everyone in my department is very happy
because the project we’ve been working on for six months has finally been given the _____ light.
12
There were 200 people in a room
designed for only 75. It was like the _____ Hole of Calcutta in there.
13
Your report is full of errors and
spelling mistakes. I don’t think you were using your _____ matter when
you wrote it.
14
You must hear the new album by the
American rock group Nuclear Puppy: it’s _____-hot!
15
I had a real _____-letter day yesterday: my boss gave
me a pay rise, I won £60 on the lottery, and my boyfriend took me to my favourite
restaurant for dinner.
16
Most of the people in my town are _____-collar workers.
There are very few people working in factories.
17
The company has been doing badly for
over two years, and now everyone agrees that it’s a financial _____ hole.
18
Nobody in the office likes him very
much: he’s always _____-nosing
the boss.
19
Your garden looks wonderful. What
lovely, healthy plants. You must have _____ fingers!
20
I hadn’t heard from Jo for almost ten
years, so when a letter from her came out of the _____, I was naturally very surprised.
21
He would never argue with or contradict
his boss. He’s far too _____.
22
Yesterday I had an overdraft of almost
£300, but I got paid today, so my bank account is in the _____ again. Unfortunately I don’t
think it will stay like that for long!
23
Nobody knew who had been stealing money
from the office, until the new salesman was caught _____-handed opening the safe.
24
I feel terrible this morning because I
was out painting
the town _____ last night, and didn’t go to bed until 3 o’clock.
25
If I were you, I would avoid the boss
today. You’re in his
_____ books after that rude comment you made about his wife.
26
I know he was angry, but I was still
shocked at the terrible language he was using. The air was turning _____!
27
(At a party): Hello, Anthea. Thanks for
coming. Lovely to see you again. Let me get you a drink. Glass of _____?
28
I wouldn’t recommend him for a senior
position in management: he’s still a bit _____.
29
When I told Sara that I wanted to go
out for a drink with my ex-girlfriend, she didn’t say anything, but she gave
me a really _____
look.
30
There wasn’t much we could do when we
discovered that the office had been robbed except call the police station and
wait for the boys in
_____ to arrive.
31
What’s the matter with you? You’ve been
in a _____ mood all
evening.
32
It’s only my parents who are coming to
dinner tonight, not the Queen of England! There’s no need to roll out the _____ carpet.
33
(Complete this sentence with two
different colours): I was told that I had got the job at the interview, but I
won’t be happy until I see it in _____ and _____.
34
(Complete this sentence with two
different colours): After falling off his bicycle, he was _____ and _____ all
over.
1. green. A person
who is green with envy is very jealous (= envious) of the
success of others. Jealousy / envy is sometimes humorously referred to as the
green-eyed monster. We sometimes say that a jealous person has a green
streak in them.
2. red. When
someone sees red, they become very angry. We sometimes say that they get
the red mist. Something that is likely to make an angry person even
more angry can be described as a red rag to a bull: «Don’t
ask Charles why his wife left him; that would be like showing a red
rag to a bull«. If you become extremely angry, we can say that you go
purple with rage. A person who loses his / her temper can be said to lose
their rag, fly off the handle or blow their top.
3. blue. If something
happens once in a blue moon, it happens very rarely.
4. black. Someone
who is described as the black sheep (of the family) is different
from the other members of his / her family, and is not approved of by other members
of the family.
5. white. If you
tell a white lie, you tell someone something that is not true in order
to avoid hurting their feelings.
6. red. Red
tape refers to documents, rules or processes that cause delay.
7. blue. If
someone says that you can do something until you’re blue in the
face, they are telling you that there is no point in doing it because you
will not be successful (we can also use the expression until the cows come
home).
8. blue. If you scream
blue murder, you shout very loudly because you are angry, frightened or
in pain.
9. pink. If you
are in the pink, you are healthy and happy. This is an old fashioned
expression.
10. white. A white
elephant is something that costs a lot of money and is not very useful.
11. green. When
somebody gives you the green light, they are giving you their official
approval for something to be done. This can also be a verb, to greenlight:
«Three directors have greenlighted the project«. We
can also say give the go-ahead or be given the go-ahead.
12. Black. If a
place is described as being like the Black Hole of Calcutta, it
is very crowded and uncomfortable (it comes from the informal name of a
former prison in the Indian city of Calcutta, which was so hot and small that
many people died there).
13. grey. Your grey
matter is your brain. We can also say use your head or use your
loaf.
14. red. Something
that is described as red-hot is very good or very exciting. This can
also be used to describe someone who is very popular or successful: A new
red-hot American band. The word white could also be used
here.
15. red. A red
letter day is a very happy or exciting day.
16. white. White-collar
workers work in offices rather than doing physical work. People who work
in factories, down mines, etc, are called blue-collar workers.
17. black. A black
hole, in this context, is a situation in which lots of money is spent
without bringing any benefits. We can also say a money pit.
18. brown. If you brown-nose
someone who is important or powerful, you try very hard to please them by
agreeing with them all the time. This can also be a noun: a brown-noser.
It is not a polite expression. A man who always agrees with his boss might be
called a yes-man and is always sucking up to his boss.
19. green. Somebody
who has green fingers is very good at making plants and flowers grow.
In American English you would have a green thumb.
20. blue. When something
happens out of the blue, it is sudden and unexpected. If it is a big
surprise or a big shock, we can say that it is a bolt from the blue.
21. yellow. A
person who is yellow is cowardly (= not very brave). We sometimes say that
a cowardly person has a yellow streak in them.
22. black. A bank
account that is in the black has money in it. When the account is overdrawn
(= less than £0 in it, and the account holder owes money to the bank), we
say that it is in the red.
23. red. If a
person is caught redhanded, he / she is caught doing something wrong (we
can also say caught in the act). The salesman in this situation is
committing a white-collar crime: see number 16 above.
24. red. When you paint
the town red, you enjoy yourself by going to bars and clubs. We can also
say that you go out on the town or go out on the razzle.
25. black. If you
are in someone’s black books, you are in trouble with them because of
something you have said or done. We can also say that you are in the
doghouse (with someone): Poor old Bob’s in the doghouse with
his wife: he forgot their anniversary again.
26. blue. When the air
is turning blue, someone is swearing (= using very rude words)
a lot in a loud voice. We can also say that the person who is swearing is turning
the air blue.
27. red / white. A
glass of red / white is an informal, shortened expression for a glass
of red / white wine.
28. green. Somebody
who is described as green, or a bit green, is not very
experienced at something, usually because he / she is young. We can also say
that they are a bit wet behind the ears. Note that green is
also frequently used to talk about the environment, and the protection of the
environment: a green transport policy, greener farming
methods, green campaigners, the Green Party, etc).
29. black. When
someone gives you a black look, they look at you in a very angry way.
30. blue. The
boys in blue is an informal (and usually friendly) expression for the police.
31. black. If you
are in a black mood, you are unhappy or angry and in a bad mood.
32. red. If you roll
out the red carpet for somebody, you give them special treatment
because they are important.
33. black and white.
Something that is in black and white is written on paper (for example,
a letter or a contract). Note that we cannot say white and black. Do
not confuse this with «Black or white?» (an expression that
is used when we want to know if someone wants milk in their tea or coffee).
34. black and blue.
Someone who is black and blue (all over) is covered with bruises
(= dark marks on the skin caused by an accident, or perhaps because they
have been hit by someone or something). Note that we cannot say blue and
black.