Colour idioms

Colour idioms

Idioms with blue

• out of blue - out of nowhere

• blue blood - someone from a noble, aristocratic or wealthy family

• to feel blue - to feel sad or depressed

• once in a blue moon - extremely rarely, or only once in a lifetime

• blue collar - men used as labourers, or factory workers

Idioms with red

• to be in red - be in debt, or owe an institution some money

• a red herring - an unimportant matter that misleads everyone and draws attention away from the main subject

• to see red - to react with uncontrollable rage

• red tape - official rules and processes that seem unnecessary and delay results

• roll out the red carpet - to greet a person with great respect, and give them a big, warm welcome

Idioms with white

• raise a white flag - one has accepted defeat and surrenders to the other party

• white elephant - a useless possession, something that is of no use

• a white lie - ‘harmless’ lie told in order to be polite and avoid hurting someone’s feelings

• white collar - office workers that traditionally wear white shirts with a collar

• white as a ghost - someone who is very pale because of pain, fear, shock or illness

Idioms with grey

• a grey area - something that is not clearly defined

• get gray hair from (someone or something) - to be exceedingly worried, stressed, or upset

Idioms/phrases with gold 

• a golden opportunity - an opportunity that may never present itself again

• heart of gold - a kind and generous disposition

• all that glitters is not gold - not everything that looks precious or true turns out to be so

Idioms with other colours 🌈

• green thumb/green finger - someone with talent for gardening

• gorn with a silver spoon in one’s mouth - born into a rich family

• purple patch - a run of success or good luck.

• green light - permission to go ahead with (a project)

• flying colours - if you do something such as pass an exam with flying colours, you do it very successfully

Ready to try it in context?

Multiple Choice

an idiom used to express that you are in debt.

• to be in the red

• flying colors

• to be in the black

Multiple Choice

She seemed so surprised by the news that it must have come out of__________.

• the blue

• the red

• the golden

Multiple Choice

When I failed to finish college, I missed my __________ to prepare myself for a good job.

• green light

• green thumb

• golden opportunity

Multiple Choice

an idiom used to express uncertainty

• Red Tape

• Grey area

• Flying colors

Multiple Choice

White-collar workers:

• work in the office.

• work by using physical strength and skills.

Multiple Choice

If you tell a white lie you:

• want to hurt the other person.

• don't want to hurt the other person.

Multiple Choice

White elephant is something:

• necessary

• important

• unnecessary

Multiple Choice

Sylvia had passed her exams with ____________.

• flying colours

• a purple patch

• a green thumb

Multiple Choice

After five quarters _________, the business will soon be profitable again.

• in the red tape

• in the black

• in the red

Good job!! 🙌