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Colour idioms

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Sandra Àlvarez

This document defines various idioms and phrases related to colors: - It provides over 50 definitions of common idioms and phrases that use colors like black, blue, green, grey, red, and white as part of the expression. - The definitions cover a wide range of topics from financial situations to emotions to occupations to types of entertainment, products, and natural phenomena. - The document serves as a reference for understanding the meanings behind many colorful idioms and phrases in the English language.

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BE IN THE BLACK To have money in the bank; not being in debt BLACK AND BLUE (ALL OVER) Having bruises all over A BLACK DAY FOR SBDY/STHG An unhappy day when something bad happens BLACK ICE Ice that is almost invisible on roads and dangerous A BLACK LIST A list of persons who are dangerous A BLACK LOOK A look of anger, dislike, resentment A BLACK MARK A record of somebody’s misconduct A/THE BLACK SHEEP (OF THE FAMILY) A disgrace to the family A BLACKOUT Loss of electricity; loss of consciousness A BLACKSPOT A place on the road where accidents happen IN SOMEONE’S BLACK BOOKS Out of favour with someone IN BLACK AND WHITE In writing or in print. To state that something is legal NOT AS/SO BLACK AS ONE/IT IS PAINTED Not as bad as believed BLACKHEAD A small spot on the skin with a black top BLACKLEG A person who works while others that they work with are on strike; a scab The crime of demanding money from a person by threatening to tell BLACKMAIL somebody else a secret about them 1
BLACKSMITH A person whose job is to make and repair things made of iron BLUE BLOOD Be royal or aristocratic A BLUE-COLLAR WORKER A manual worker or factory worker A BLUE-EYED BOY To be somebody’s favourite A BLUE FILM Pornographic film A BOLT FROM THE BLUE A sudden (usually unpleasant) surprise or shock DISAPPEAR INTO THE BLUE Go away suddenly IN A BLUE FUNK Very worried, in a state of fear about what may happen ONCE IN A BLUE MOON Very rarely OUT OF THE BLUE Suddenly, unexpectedly (appear/turn up/say/ask) SCREAM BLUE MURDER Shout loudly and emotionally in disagreement UNTIL ONE IS BLUE IN THE FACE Continuously but without results (talk/ argue-) A TRUE BLUE (GB) a loyal Conservative with traditional views and values BLUE-CHIP Investment, likely to make a profit BLUEGRASS A type of traditional American country music played on guitars and Banjos BLUEPRINT Photographic print of a plan for a building or a machine 2
BLUE RIBAND An honour given to the winner of the 1st prize in a competition GO/TURN GREY Become grey-haired GREY MATTER One’s brain, intelligence, powers of reasoning GREY AREA An area of a subject or situation that is not clear A large thin dog with smooth hair and long thin legs, that can run very fast GREYHOUND and is used in the sport of greyhound racing BE GREEN Be too trusting, naïve and easily deceived through lack of experience A GREEN BELT An area of fields and woodlands around a town GIVE SOMEONE/GET THE GREEN LIGHT Give permission to do something GREEN WITH ENVY Extremely envious of something or somebody HAVE GREEN FINGERS Be good at gardening GREENBACK An American banknote GREEN CARD Document that allows you to stay in another country GREENFLY Insect harmful to plants GREENGAGE A small soft green fruit that is a type of plum GREENGROCER A person who owns a store selling fruits and vegetables GREENHOUSE A building with glass sides for growing plants 3
GREENKEEPER A person whose job is to take care of a golf course GREEN ROOM A room in a theatre where the performers can relax (GB)a document containing government proposals on a particular subject, GREEN PAPER intended for general discussion BE/GO/TURN AS RED AS A BEETROOT Go red in the face with embarrassment or anger BE IN THE RED Have no money in one’s bank account (CATCH SB/BE CAUGHT) RED-HANDED In the act of doing something secretive or criminal THE RED CARPET TREATMENT Something that has a lot of importance An unimportant or irrelevant matter which is introduced into a discussion to A RED HERRING divert attention from the main subject An important or joyful occasion which one looks forward to or remembers A RED-LETTER DAY with pleasure Official, bureaucratic formalities and procedure which slow down people and RED TAPE processes SEE RED Suddenly become very angry, lose one’s temper RED-EYE A flight in a plane at night, on which you cannot get enough sleep. RED-FACED With a red face, especially because you are embarrassed or angry Used to describe the person, animal or team that is considered almost certain RED-HOT to win a race RED-LIGHT DISTRICT A part of a town where there are many prostitutes A man who lives in a country area of the US, has little education and has REDNECK strong conservative political opinions 4
REDSKIN Red Indian REDWOOD A very tall tree that grows especially in California (secuoya) AS WHITE AS A SHEET/GHOST Very pale because of fear, shock, illness WHITE COFFEE Coffee with milk or cream A WHITE-COLLAR WORKER A non-manual worker (office worker,) A lie which does no harm and is more polite than the truth, usually told to A (LITTLE) WHITE LIE spare somebody’s feelings or for convenience WHITEBAIT Very small young fish or several types that ate fried and eaten whole WHITE-BREAD Ordinary and traditional WHITECAPS White horses WHITE DWARF A small star that is near the end of its life and is very dense A thing that is useless and no longer needed, although it may have cost a lot WHITE ELEPHANT of money WHITE FLAG A sign that you accept defeat and wish to stop fighting WHITE GOODS Large pieces of electrical equipment in the house WHITEHALL A street in London where there are many government offices WHITE HEAT The very high temperature at which metal looks white WHITE HOPE A person who is expected to bring success to a team, an organization WHITE HORSES Waves in the sea or ocean with white tops on them 5
A person or an organization that rescues a company from being bought by WHITE KNIGHT another company at too low a price A ride at a fairground that makes you feel very excited and fightened at the WHITE-KNUCKLE RIDE same time Unpleasant noise, that the noise that comes from a TV or radio that is turned WHITE NOISE on but not tuned in Weather conditions in which there is so much snow or cloud that it is WHITE-OUT impossible to see anything (GB) a government report that gives information about sth and explains WHITE PAPER government plans before a new law is introduced A colourless liquid made from petrol/gas, used as a cleaning substance or to WHITE SPIRIT make paint thinner A mixture of chalk or lime and water, used for painting houses and walls WHITEWASH white; an attempt to hide unpleasant facts about sb/sth; a complete defeat in a sports game A part of a river that looks white because the water is moving very fast over WHITE WATER rocks WHITE WEDDING A traditional wedding 6

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Colour idioms

  • 1. BE IN THE BLACK To have money in the bank; not being in debt BLACK AND BLUE (ALL OVER) Having bruises all over A BLACK DAY FOR SBDY/STHG An unhappy day when something bad happens BLACK ICE Ice that is almost invisible on roads and dangerous A BLACK LIST A list of persons who are dangerous A BLACK LOOK A look of anger, dislike, resentment A BLACK MARK A record of somebody’s misconduct A/THE BLACK SHEEP (OF THE FAMILY) A disgrace to the family A BLACKOUT Loss of electricity; loss of consciousness A BLACKSPOT A place on the road where accidents happen IN SOMEONE’S BLACK BOOKS Out of favour with someone IN BLACK AND WHITE In writing or in print. To state that something is legal NOT AS/SO BLACK AS ONE/IT IS PAINTED Not as bad as believed BLACKHEAD A small spot on the skin with a black top BLACKLEG A person who works while others that they work with are on strike; a scab The crime of demanding money from a person by threatening to tell BLACKMAIL somebody else a secret about them 1
  • 2. BLACKSMITH A person whose job is to make and repair things made of iron BLUE BLOOD Be royal or aristocratic A BLUE-COLLAR WORKER A manual worker or factory worker A BLUE-EYED BOY To be somebody’s favourite A BLUE FILM Pornographic film A BOLT FROM THE BLUE A sudden (usually unpleasant) surprise or shock DISAPPEAR INTO THE BLUE Go away suddenly IN A BLUE FUNK Very worried, in a state of fear about what may happen ONCE IN A BLUE MOON Very rarely OUT OF THE BLUE Suddenly, unexpectedly (appear/turn up/say/ask) SCREAM BLUE MURDER Shout loudly and emotionally in disagreement UNTIL ONE IS BLUE IN THE FACE Continuously but without results (talk/ argue-) A TRUE BLUE (GB) a loyal Conservative with traditional views and values BLUE-CHIP Investment, likely to make a profit BLUEGRASS A type of traditional American country music played on guitars and Banjos BLUEPRINT Photographic print of a plan for a building or a machine 2
  • 3. BLUE RIBAND An honour given to the winner of the 1st prize in a competition GO/TURN GREY Become grey-haired GREY MATTER One’s brain, intelligence, powers of reasoning GREY AREA An area of a subject or situation that is not clear A large thin dog with smooth hair and long thin legs, that can run very fast GREYHOUND and is used in the sport of greyhound racing BE GREEN Be too trusting, naïve and easily deceived through lack of experience A GREEN BELT An area of fields and woodlands around a town GIVE SOMEONE/GET THE GREEN LIGHT Give permission to do something GREEN WITH ENVY Extremely envious of something or somebody HAVE GREEN FINGERS Be good at gardening GREENBACK An American banknote GREEN CARD Document that allows you to stay in another country GREENFLY Insect harmful to plants GREENGAGE A small soft green fruit that is a type of plum GREENGROCER A person who owns a store selling fruits and vegetables GREENHOUSE A building with glass sides for growing plants 3
  • 4. GREENKEEPER A person whose job is to take care of a golf course GREEN ROOM A room in a theatre where the performers can relax (GB)a document containing government proposals on a particular subject, GREEN PAPER intended for general discussion BE/GO/TURN AS RED AS A BEETROOT Go red in the face with embarrassment or anger BE IN THE RED Have no money in one’s bank account (CATCH SB/BE CAUGHT) RED-HANDED In the act of doing something secretive or criminal THE RED CARPET TREATMENT Something that has a lot of importance An unimportant or irrelevant matter which is introduced into a discussion to A RED HERRING divert attention from the main subject An important or joyful occasion which one looks forward to or remembers A RED-LETTER DAY with pleasure Official, bureaucratic formalities and procedure which slow down people and RED TAPE processes SEE RED Suddenly become very angry, lose one’s temper RED-EYE A flight in a plane at night, on which you cannot get enough sleep. RED-FACED With a red face, especially because you are embarrassed or angry Used to describe the person, animal or team that is considered almost certain RED-HOT to win a race RED-LIGHT DISTRICT A part of a town where there are many prostitutes A man who lives in a country area of the US, has little education and has REDNECK strong conservative political opinions 4
  • 5. REDSKIN Red Indian REDWOOD A very tall tree that grows especially in California (secuoya) AS WHITE AS A SHEET/GHOST Very pale because of fear, shock, illness WHITE COFFEE Coffee with milk or cream A WHITE-COLLAR WORKER A non-manual worker (office worker,) A lie which does no harm and is more polite than the truth, usually told to A (LITTLE) WHITE LIE spare somebody’s feelings or for convenience WHITEBAIT Very small young fish or several types that ate fried and eaten whole WHITE-BREAD Ordinary and traditional WHITECAPS White horses WHITE DWARF A small star that is near the end of its life and is very dense A thing that is useless and no longer needed, although it may have cost a lot WHITE ELEPHANT of money WHITE FLAG A sign that you accept defeat and wish to stop fighting WHITE GOODS Large pieces of electrical equipment in the house WHITEHALL A street in London where there are many government offices WHITE HEAT The very high temperature at which metal looks white WHITE HOPE A person who is expected to bring success to a team, an organization WHITE HORSES Waves in the sea or ocean with white tops on them 5
  • 6. A person or an organization that rescues a company from being bought by WHITE KNIGHT another company at too low a price A ride at a fairground that makes you feel very excited and fightened at the WHITE-KNUCKLE RIDE same time Unpleasant noise, that the noise that comes from a TV or radio that is turned WHITE NOISE on but not tuned in Weather conditions in which there is so much snow or cloud that it is WHITE-OUT impossible to see anything (GB) a government report that gives information about sth and explains WHITE PAPER government plans before a new law is introduced A colourless liquid made from petrol/gas, used as a cleaning substance or to WHITE SPIRIT make paint thinner A mixture of chalk or lime and water, used for painting houses and walls WHITEWASH white; an attempt to hide unpleasant facts about sb/sth; a complete defeat in a sports game A part of a river that looks white because the water is moving very fast over WHITE WATER rocks WHITE WEDDING A traditional wedding 6