Colors play a fascinating role in our everyday language. We often find ourselves using colorful expressions to convey a wide range of emotions, situations, and characteristics.
In this article, we’ll explore some common idioms for colors and unravel the meanings behind these vivid phrases.
Get ready to dive into the world of expressions that paint our language with a spectrum of hues.
What is an idiom for colors?
Idioms are phrases that carry a figurative meaning different from the literal interpretation of the words.
When it comes to colors, these idioms add a layer of vivid imagery to our conversations.
Let’s take a closer look at some colorful idioms and uncover their meanings.
| Idiom | Meaning | In a Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Green with envy | Extremely jealous or envious. | When Jane saw her friend’s new bike, she turned green with envy, wishing she had one too. |
| Red as a lobster | Having a sunburn, typically on the face, making the skin turn red. | After spending the entire day at the beach without sunscreen, Mark came home looking as red as a lobster. |
| Yellow-bellied | Cowardly or lacking courage. | Tom hesitated to go on the roller coaster, thinking his friends would call him yellow-bellied. |
| Out of the blue | Something unexpected or happening suddenly. | Sarah received a job offer out of the blue, making her day unexpectedly joyful. |
| Black and white | Clearly defined or straightforward. | The rules of the game were black and white, leaving no room for confusion. |
| Pink elephants | Hallucinations, often induced by excessive alcohol consumption. | After a night of heavy drinking, Jake claimed to have seen pink elephants in his living room. |
| Golden opportunity | A chance that is highly advantageous and should not be missed. | Getting an internship at the prestigious company was a golden opportunity for Emily to kickstart her career. |
| Blue in the face | Exhausted or extremely tired. | Despite arguing with his brother for hours, he talked until he was blue in the face and still didn’t convince him. |
| White as a sheet | Extremely pale due to fear, shock, or illness. | When the teacher announced a surprise test, Tim turned as white as a sheet. |
| In the red | Operating at a financial loss or being in debt. | The small business found itself in the red after a few months of slow sales. |
| Brownie points | Extra credit or favor given for a good deed or achievement. | Helping his neighbor carry groceries earned him brownie points in the community. |
| Green light | Approval or permission to proceed. | The boss gave the project a green light, allowing the team to move forward. |
| Paint the town red | To go out and celebrate with enthusiasm and extravagance. | After acing her exams, Lisa decided to paint the town red with her friends. |
| Gray area | A situation lacking clarity or definition. | The new company policy left a gray area regarding remote work, causing confusion among employees. |
| Caught red-handed | Caught in the act of doing something wrong. | The security camera caught the thief red-handed as he attempted to steal from the store. |
| Silver lining | Finding a positive aspect in a challenging or negative situation. | Losing the job had a silver lining – it pushed her to pursue a career she was truly passionate about. |
| Pink slip | A notice of termination from employment. | Unfortunately, the economic downturn resulted in many employees receiving pink slips. |
| True blue | Loyal, trustworthy, and reliable. | Despite the challenges, Sarah remained true blue to her friends and supported them. |
| Black sheep | A person who is considered different or disreputable within a group. | In the family of successful doctors, Sam felt like the black sheep pursuing a career in art. |
| The grass is always greener on the other side | Thinking other people’s situations are better than one’s own. | Mark always envied his neighbor’s job, forgetting that the grass is always greener on the other side. |
| White lie | A harmless or trivial lie told to avoid hurting someone’s feelings. | Jane told a white lie about liking her friend’s new hairstyle, not wanting to hurt her feelings. |
| Roll out the red carpet | To give someone a royal or special treatment. | The hotel staff decided to roll out the red carpet for the celebrity guests arriving for the event. |
| Green thumb | A natural talent for gardening or growing plants. | Grandma has a green thumb, and her garden is always full of beautiful flowers and vegetables. |
| Red tape | Excessive bureaucracy or official procedures that hinder progress. | The construction project was delayed due to bureaucratic red tape. |
| Orange you glad? | A playful way of expressing joy or satisfaction. | After receiving a surprise gift, Mary exclaimed, “Orange you glad? I certainly am!” |
| Black and blue | Bruised or injured, typically with discoloration. | After the intense sports match, Tom’s leg was black and blue from all the tackles. |
| Purple prose | Exaggerated, flowery, or overly elaborate language in writing. | The romance novel was filled with purple prose, making it difficult to take the plot seriously. |
Metaphors can vividly describe colors, like comparing them to the emotions of a painting waiting to be felt. To explore more metaphors for colors, you can visit this link: Metaphors for Colors. Similarly, similes offer comparisons that make colors more relatable, such as saying they are as bright as a sunny day. Discover additional similes for colors here: Similes for Colors.
Idioms for Colors
1. Green with envy
Meaning: Extremely jealous or envious.
In a Sentence: When Jane saw her friend’s new bike, she turned green with envy, wishing she had one too.
2. Red as a lobster
Meaning: Having a sunburn, typically on the face, making the skin turn red.
In a Sentence: After spending the entire day at the beach without sunscreen, Mark came home looking as red as a lobster.
3. Yellow-bellied
Meaning: Cowardly or lacking courage.
In a Sentence: Tom hesitated to go on the roller coaster, thinking his friends would call him yellow-bellied.
4. Out of the blue
Meaning: Something unexpected or happening suddenly.
In a Sentence: Sarah received a job offer out of the blue, making her day unexpectedly joyful.
5. Black and white
Meaning: Clearly defined or straightforward.
In a Sentence: The rules of the game were black and white, leaving no room for confusion.
6. Pink elephants
Meaning: Hallucinations, often induced by excessive alcohol consumption.
In a Sentence: After a night of heavy drinking, Jake claimed to have seen pink elephants in his living room.
7. Golden opportunity
Meaning: A chance that is highly advantageous and should not be missed.
In a Sentence: Getting an internship at the prestigious company was a golden opportunity for Emily to kickstart her career.
8. Blue in the face
Meaning: Exhausted or extremely tired.
In a Sentence: Despite arguing with his brother for hours, he talked until he was blue in the face and still didn’t convince him.
9. White as a sheet
Meaning: Extremely pale due to fear, shock, or illness.
In a Sentence: When the teacher announced a surprise test, Tim turned as white as a sheet.
10. In the red
Meaning: Operating at a financial loss or being in debt.
In a Sentence: The small business found itself in the red after a few months of slow sales.
11. Brownie points
Meaning: Extra credit or favor given for a good deed or achievement.
In a Sentence: Helping his neighbor carry groceries earned him brownie points in the community.
12. Green light
Meaning: Approval or permission to proceed.
In a Sentence: The boss gave the project a green light, allowing the team to move forward.
13. Paint the town red
Meaning: To go out and celebrate with enthusiasm and extravagance.
In a Sentence: After acing her exams, Lisa decided to paint the town red with her friends.
14. Gray area
Meaning: A situation lacking clarity or definition.
In a Sentence: The new company policy left a gray area regarding remote work, causing confusion among employees.
15. Caught red-handed
Meaning: Caught in the act of doing something wrong.
In a Sentence: The security camera caught the thief red-handed as he attempted to steal from the store.
16. Silver lining
Meaning: Finding a positive aspect in a challenging or negative situation.
In a Sentence: Losing the job had a silver lining – it pushed her to pursue a career she was truly passionate about.
17. Pink slip
Meaning: A notice of termination from employment.
In a Sentence: Unfortunately, the economic downturn resulted in many employees receiving pink slips.
18. True blue
Meaning: Loyal, trustworthy, and reliable.
In a Sentence: Despite the challenges, Sarah remained true blue to her friends and supported them.
19. Black sheep
Meaning: A person who is considered different or disreputable within a group.
In a Sentence: In the family of successful doctors, Sam felt like the black sheep pursuing a career in art.
20. The grass is always greener on the other side
Meaning: Thinking other people’s situations are better than one’s own.
In a Sentence: Mark always envied his neighbor’s job, forgetting that the grass is always greener on the other side.
21. White lie
Meaning: A harmless or trivial lie told to avoid hurting someone’s feelings.
In a Sentence: Jane told a white lie about liking her friend’s new hairstyle, not wanting to hurt her feelings.
22. Roll out the red carpet
Meaning: To give someone a royal or special treatment.
In a Sentence: The hotel staff decided to roll out the red carpet for the celebrity guests arriving for the event.
23. Green thumb
Meaning: A natural talent for gardening or growing plants.
In a Sentence: Grandma has a green thumb, and her garden is always full of beautiful flowers and vegetables.
24. Red tape
Meaning: Excessive bureaucracy or official procedures that hinder progress.
In a Sentence: The construction project was delayed due to bureaucratic red tape.
25. Orange you glad?
Meaning: A playful way of expressing joy or satisfaction.
In a Sentence: After receiving a surprise gift, Mary exclaimed, “Orange you glad? I certainly am!”
26. Black and blue
Meaning: Bruised or injured, typically with discoloration.
In a Sentence: After the intense sports match, Tom’s leg was black and blue from all the tackles.
27. Purple prose
Meaning: Exaggerated, flowery, or overly elaborate language in writing.
In a Sentence: The romance novel was filled with purple prose, making it difficult to take the plot seriously.
10 Quizzes About The Idiom in The Article
Quiz 1: Green with Envy
- What does the idiom “green with envy” mean?
- A. Extremely happy
- B. Extremely jealous or envious
- C. Extremely tired
- In which sentence is “green with envy” correctly used?
- A. She was green with envy after a delightful surprise.
- B. When he got the promotion, he turned green with envy.
- C. After a long day at work, he felt green with envy.
Quiz 2: Red as a Lobster
- What does the idiom “red as a lobster” signify?
- A. Feeling angry
- B. Having a sunburn
- C. Being extremely shy
- Choose the correct sentence using “red as a lobster.”
- A. Jane was red as a lobster when she won the lottery.
- B. Mark became red as a lobster after spending the day at the beach without sunscreen.
- C. Tom turned red as a lobster after facing a challenging situation.
Quiz 3: Yellow-bellied
- What does the expression “yellow-bellied” mean?
- A. Courageous and bold
- B. Lacking courage or being cowardly
- C. Having a positive outlook
- In which situation might someone be called “yellow-bellied”?
- A. Climbing a mountain without fear
- B. Rescuing a kitten from a tree
- C. Hesitating to go on a roller coaster due to fear
Quiz 4: Out of the Blue
- What is the meaning of the phrase “out of the blue”?
- A. Gradually over time
- B. Something unexpected or happening suddenly
- C. With careful consideration
- Which scenario best fits the idiom “out of the blue”?
- A. Sarah’s planned vacation
- B. Receiving a surprise job offer
- C. A regularly scheduled meeting
Quiz 5: Black and White
- What does “black and white” mean in the context of an idiom?
- A. Simple and straightforward
- B. Complicated and confusing
- C. Dull and uninteresting
- Choose the correct sentence using “black and white.”
- A. The rules of the game were black and white, leaving room for interpretation.
- B. The instructions were black and white, making it easy to understand.
- C. The conversation was black and white, filled with various perspectives.
Feel free to use these quizzes to test your knowledge of the idioms discussed in the article!
Conclusion
Colors have a way of painting our language with vivid expressions, adding depth and imagery to our everyday conversations.
These idioms for colors bring a spectrum of emotions, situations, and characteristics to life, creating a colorful tapestry of words that enrich our communication.
