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Idioms on colours add vibrancy and creativity to our conversation. Also, idioms often convey emotions or situations in a way that normal sentences cannot. For instance, saying someone is “feeling blue” means they are sad, while “seeing red” indicates anger. By using colour idioms, writers and speakers can have a clear idea in the minds of their audience, making their communication more engaging and expressive. This blog will explore some popular idioms on colours to help you improve your speech and writing.
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Common Idioms on Colours in English and their Meaning
Colour idioms are common in English and convey specific meanings beyond the literal sense. For example, “feeling blue” means feeling sad, while “seeing red” refers to anger. “Green with envy” expresses jealousy, and “in the black” signifies financial profitability or stability. These idioms add vivid imagery to everyday language.
Now, let us learn about different idioms on colours.
Born with a Silver Spoon in One’s Mouth
Meaning: The idiom “Born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth” suggests being born into a wealthy or privileged family. It suggests that a person has had advantages and opportunities from the very start of their life because of their family’s wealth or high social status.
Once in a Blue Moon
Meaning: “Once in a blue moon” means something that happens very rarely. So, when you say something happens “once in a blue moon,” you’re saying it doesn’t happen often, maybe only once in a very long time.
Roll Out the Red Carpet
Meaning: One of the most common idioms on colours “Roll out the red carpet” indicates giving someone a special welcome or showing them great hospitality. It comes from the tradition of laying out a red carpet for important guests to walk on, symbolizing honor and respect.
Rose Coloured Glasses
Meaning: The idiom “Rose-coloured glasses” refers to a way of seeing things in an overly positive or optimistic manner, often ignoring problems or negative aspects.
With Flying Colours
Meaning: The idiom “With flying colours” means to achieve something with great success or to do something exceptionally well.
Idioms on Colours: Meanings and Example Sentences
Colour idioms convey unique meanings. “Every cloud has a silver lining” means finding good in tough situations. “Raise a white flag” signals surrender, while “whitewash something” covers up faults. “To be tickled pink” expresses extreme happiness or joy.
Now, let us learn how to use idioms on colours in sentences.
Every cloud has a silver lining
Meaning: “Every cloud has a silver lining” means that even in bad or difficult situations, something good or positive can always come out of it.
Sentence: Richa used the time to start her own business, which was very successful. She realised that every cloud has a silver lining.
To look for/see the silver lining
Meaning: “To look for the silver lining,” means trying to find a positive aspect or a good thing in a difficult or unhappy situation.
Sentence: Even though she lost her job, she saw the silver lining because now she has time to learn new skills.
Raise a white flag
Meaning: To surrender or give up, especially in a conflict or competition. This is one of the commonly used idioms on colours which signifies that someone is admitting defeat and is no longer willing to continue fighting or arguing.
Sentence: During the debate, Rohit realized he didn’t have enough facts to support his argument, so he decided to raise a white flag and admitted he was wrong.
Whitewash something
Meaning: “whitewash something” means to cover up or gloss over faults, errors, or unpleasant facts, making them seem better or less bad than they are.
Sentence: The company tried to whitewash the scandal by only talking about its recent successes.
To be tickled pink
Meaning: One of the most popular idioms on colours, “tickled pink” suggests that the person is so happy that their face turns pink from joy, similar to how people’s faces can turn red when they laugh a lot.
Sentence: When she received the award, she was tickled pink.
In the pink of something
Meaning: When someone says they are “in the pink” or “in the pink of health,” they are saying that they are feeling very well or are in excellent health.
Sentence: After a few weeks of rest, Jane is now in the pink and ready to return to work.
To give someone the green light
Meaning: The idiom “to give someone the green light” means to give someone permission to proceed with a plan or project.
Sentence: After reviewing the project proposal, the manager decided to give the team the green light to start the new marketing campaign.
To be green with envy
Meaning: To be green with envy indicates to feel envious of someone else’s good fortune. It is one of the most widely used idioms on colours used to describe jealousy.
Sentence: If your friend just got a brand-new car and you’ve been wanting one for a long time, you might say, “I’m green with envy over your new car!” This shows you’re feeling jealous of their new car.
To have a green thumb
Meaning: To “have a green thumb” means to be good at growing plants. Someone with a green thumb knows how to take care of plants so they thrive and look healthy.
Sentence: Sarah’s garden is full of beautiful flowers and vegetables. She has a green thumb because everything she plants grows so well.
The grass is always greener on the other side
Meaning: “The grass is always greener on the other side” suggests that people often think other people’s situations or lives are better than their own. It is among the commonly used idioms on colours while conversing.
Sentence: After seeing her friend’s glamorous vacation photos, Sarah thought, “The grass is always greener on the other side,” wishing she had a more exciting life.
Check Out Best Idioms with Examples and Meanings [Download PDF]
5 Colour Idioms to Describe People with Examples
Colour idioms often describe people’s traits or moods. For example, “green with envy” describes jealousy, while “blue-blooded” refers to nobility. “In the pink” means being healthy, “yellow-bellied” suggests cowardice, and “black sheep” denotes someone who stands out negatively.
You can check out the following idioms on colours to describe a person.
Red-Faced
Meaning: The idiom “red-faced” means feeling embarrassed or ashamed. When someone is red-faced, their face might turn red due to the embarrassment.
Example: When Jack realized he had been speaking loudly about a surprise party that was meant to be a secret, he felt red-faced.
Black and Blue
Meaning: This idiom describes someone who has bruises all over their body, usually from being hit or injured. It can also be used to describe someone who is very hurt or damaged, either physically or emotionally.
Example: After the car accident, he was black and blue all over.
Black Sheep
Meaning: The idiom “black sheep” refers to a member of a group or family who is different from the others in a negative way, often causing trouble or not fitting in.
Example: Imagine a family where everyone is successful in their careers, but one member constantly struggles to hold down a job and makes poor choices. This person might be called the black sheep of the family because they don’t fit the family’s usual expectations or values.
White as a Ghost
Meaning: The phrase “white as a ghost” is used to describe someone who looks extremely pale, usually because they are frightened, shocked, or unwell.
Example: After seeing the unexpected bill for the car repairs, Rohit went white as a ghost, his face drained of all colour.
Off Colour
Meaning: The idiom “off colour” means that someone is not feeling well or is looking pale and unwell. It can also mean something inappropriate or not quite right in a situation.
Example: Ritu looked off-colour today, so she decided to go home early and rest.
Related Reads
FAQs
Some common colour idioms are:
“Out of the blue” – Something unexpected.
“Green thumb” – Skilled at gardening.
“Red tape” – Excessive bureaucracy.
“Caught red-handed” – Caught in the act of wrongdoing.
“White lie” – A harmless or small lie to avoid hurting someone’s feelings.
The idiom “paint the town red” is often used to express great happiness. The colour red, being bright and lively, symbolises joy and celebration. When someone is excited and plans to enjoy themselves with friends or at a party, they might say they’re going to “paint the town red.”
The idiom “showing your true colours” means to reveal your real character or nature. When someone shows their true colours, you understand what they are genuinely like. For example, the children are now seeing his true colours for the first time.
The idiom “to change colour” refers to becoming frightened or anxious. For instance, she turned pale when her teacher discovered she was cheating.
Hope this blog on ‘idioms on colours’ was useful to you. To advance your grammar knowledge and read more informative blogs, check out our Learn English page and don’t forget to follow Leverage Edu.
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