Vocabulary – idioms containing colours

An idiom is an expression consists of a few words whose meaning is different from the individual words. Sometimes we can figure out what the meaning of an idiom is by looking at individual words. Usually it’s quite difficult to understand the exact meaning of idiom.

Today we’re going to examine idioms containing colours. Let’s get started, shall we?

 

GREEN

 

 

1. to have green fingers => to be good at gardening

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. to give someone the green light => to give someone approval or permission to start doing something

Example: My boss gave me the green light and I’m starting technical training on Monday. Keep your fingers crosssed for me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BLACK

 

 

Do you know what it means when something is not so black as it is painted?

Example: I’ve heard a lot of negative things about this place. Maybe it’s not so black as it’s painted? ( =it’s not so bad as people say it is).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BLUE

 

 

OUT OF THE BLUE – unexpectedly

Example: We had no idea that he would come. We were sitting in the garden when he came OUT OF THE BLUE.

 

 

 

 

 

BROWN

 

TO BE IN A BROWN STUDY => to be thinking deeply about something (być pogrążonym w zadumie)

Example: After the meeting I was in a brown study. So many interesting things had been discussed that I had to think them through.

 

 

 

GREY

 

 

TO TURN GREY => to become grey-haired

Example: My grandfather turned grey quite late. He was only sixty when his whole head was covered with grey hair.

 

 

 

 

PINK

 

 

TO BE IN THE PINK => to be very healthy and feel very good (tryskać zdrowiem, być w doskonałej formie)

Example: My grandmother is 79 years old but she’s still in the pink.

 

 

 

 

If you’re interested in learning more new words, use this category link – Angielski słówka