Idioms about Colors
Language is full of vivid and creative expressions that use colors to convey emotions, experiences, and abstract concepts. These expressions, known as idioms, add flavor and depth to our conversations and writing. In English, there are many idioms that use colors to describe different situations and feelings.
In this blog, we will explore 35+ idioms about colors in English, with their meanings and examples.
- Black and blue – bruised or injured
Example: After the fight, he was black and blue all over. - White as a sheet – very pale, usually due to fear or illness
Example: When he heard the news, he went white as a sheet. - Red-handed – caught in the act of doing something wrong
Example: He was caught red-handed stealing from the store. - Green with envy – extremely jealous
Example: She was green with envy when she saw her friend’s new car. - Pink slip – a notice of termination from a job
Example: He was given a pink slip after the company downsized. - Yellow-bellied – cowardly or timid
Example: He refused to confront the bully, calling him yellow-bellied. - Gray area – a situation that is not clearly defined or understood
Example: The legality of the practice is still a gray area. - Blue-collar – relating to manual labor
Example: He worked a blue-collar job at the factory. - Golden opportunity – a chance that is too good to miss
Example: The job offer was a golden opportunity for her. - Brown-noser – someone who flatters and ingratiates themselves to gain favor
Example: He was accused of being a brown-noser by his colleagues. - Red-letter day – a day of special significance or celebration
Example: Graduation day was a red-letter day for the students. - Silver-tongued – skilled in speaking persuasively or eloquently
Example: The politician was known for his silver-tongued speeches. - Black sheep – a person who is considered a disgrace to their family or group
Example: He was always the black sheep of the family, causing trouble and getting into trouble. - White lie – a harmless or trivial lie told to avoid hurting someone’s feelings
Example: She told a white lie to her friend to avoid hurting her feelings. - Green thumb – a talent for gardening or growing plants
Example: She has a green thumb and her garden is always full of beautiful flowers. - Red tape – excessive bureaucracy or administrative procedures
Example: The process was delayed by all the red tape involved. - Gray matter – intelligence or brainpower
Example: He was known for his sharp gray matter and problem-solving skills. - Blue blood – someone who is of noble birth or high social standing
Example: The royal family is known for their blue blood. - Pink elephant – an imaginary creature that is often associated with hallucinations or drunkenness
Example: After too many drinks, he started seeing pink elephants. - Yellow journalism – sensationalist or irresponsible reporting
Example: The tabloid newspaper is known for its yellow journalism. - Golden handshake – a large sum of money given as a severance payment when an employee leaves a company
Example: He received a golden handshake after working for the company for 20 years. - Brownout – a temporary reduction in electrical power
Example: There was a brownout during the storm, causing the lights to flicker. - Red flag – a warning signal or sign of danger
Example: The suspicious behavior was a red flag to the authorities. - Blackout – a temporary loss of consciousness or memory
Example: He had a blackout and couldn’t remember what happened. - White-collar – relating to professional or administrative work
Example: She worked in a white-collar job at a law firm. - Green-eyed monster – jealousy
Example: His girlfriend’s male friend made him feel the green-eyed monster. - Silver lining – a positive aspect of a negative situation
Example: The silver lining of the pandemic was that it brought families closer together.
- Yellow submarine – a Beatles song and also a slang term for a drug-induced hallucination
- Gray hair – a sign of aging or maturity
Example: He started getting gray hair in his thirties. - Blue ribbon – a symbol of excellence or first place
Example: She won the blue ribbon for her painting in the art competition. - Pink collar – a term used to describe jobs traditionally held by women, such as secretarial or nursing jobs
Example: She worked a pink collar job as a receptionist. - Black gold – a term used to describe oil or petroleum, which is a valuable resource
Example: The country’s economy is heavily dependent on black gold. - White sale – a sale of linens or bedding
Example: The department store is having a white sale this weekend. - Green light – approval or permission to proceed with something
Example: The project was given the green light by the board of directors. - Red carpet – a special welcome or treatment given to VIPs
Example: The movie stars arrived on the red carpet for the premiere. - Gray hair wisdom – knowledge and experience gained through age
Example: His gray hair wisdom was valued by his colleagues. - Blue moon – a rare or unusual event
Example: Winning the lottery is a blue moon event. - Pink flamingo – a lawn ornament or kitschy decoration
Example: The neighbors had a pink flamingo in their front yard. - Black tie – a formal dress code for events such as weddings or galas
Example: The invitation specified a black tie dress code. - White wedding – a traditional Western wedding in which the bride wears a white dress
Example: She had always dreamed of a white wedding with a big white dress.
Idioms are an important aspect of language that adds color and depth to our conversations and writing. The use of colors in idioms is particularly effective in expressing emotions and experiences in a creative and vivid way. By exploring 40 idioms about colors in English, we have seen how colors can be used to describe a wide range of situations and feelings. Next time you hear or use one of these idioms, you can appreciate the creativity and richness of language that they represent.
