Bright idioms

Black/gray

Black as a skillet — used to describe something that is very dirty, black with dirt

Blackball someone — to exclude or ostracise someone socially, reject them

Pot calling the kettle black (shorten version: pot kettle black) — this is used when the person who hypocritically criticises or accuses someone else is as guilty as the person he or she criticises or accuses

Black tie event/affair — a formal event where male guests wear black bow ties with tuxedos or dinner jackets

In the black — meaning successful or profitable

A grey area — something that is not clearly defined, and there is still debate as to whether it is ‘black or white’, neither one way or another

Blue

Out of the blue — to appear out of nowhere without any warning, to happen quite suddenly or randomly by surprise

Blue pencil — to censor something, or limit the information that is shared

A bolt from the blue — when some unexpected bad news is received

Blue ribbon — to be of superior quality or distinction, the best of a group

Talk a blue streak — when someone talks very much and very rapidly

Feel blue — when someone looks or feels depressed or discontented

Once in a blue moon — to occur extremely rarely, or only once in a lifetime

Green

To be green — to occur extremely rarely, or only once in a lifetime

Green with envy — used to describe someone who is extremely jealous, full of envy

Give someone the green light / get the green light — when someone receives, or is given, permission to go ahead with something

Green belt — an area of fields and trees around a town

Green thumb/green finger — used to describe someone with a talent for gardening, having the ability to make plants grow

Golden

A golden opportunity — an opportunity that may never present itself again

A golden handshake — a large sum of money that is paid to a retiring manager or director, or to a redundant worker

Golden boy — the term given to a young man idolised for a great skill, usually in sport.

Silver

The silver screen — a term for the cinema

Born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth — meaning born into a rich family

To be given something on a silver plate/platter — when something is offered to someone whole-heartedly (in a metaphorical sense)

Pink

Tickled pink — to be very pleased, thrilled or delighted about something

See pink elephants — when someone sees things that are not really there, because they are in their imagination

Pink Slip — a termination notice received from a job

In the pink of something — Meaning in very good health

Red

To be shown the red card — this derives from football terminology, and means to be dismissed from your job

To be in the red — to have an overdraft, be in debt to your bank, or owe an institution some money

To be out of the red — to be out of debt

Red hot — something new and exciting, creating much demand

Red herring — something new and exciting, creating much demand

Catch someone red-handed — to catch someone in the act of committing a crime, or doing something wrong that they shouldn’t be doing

Red in the face — to become embarrassed

Red-letter day — a day that is memorable because of some important event

To see red — to react with uncontrollable rage against someone or something

Red tape — the term used for bureaucratic delay, or excessive formalities, and attention to rules and regulations, often resulting in injustice to the ordinary citizen

White

As white as a sheet — when someone is in a state of great fear or anxiety

Raise a white flag — this indicates that one has accepted defeat and surrenders to the other party

White elephant — a term used for a useless possession, something that is of no use

Yellow

Yellow-bellied — someone who is seen as a coward or extremely timid

A yellow streak — someone who has cowardice in their character