Color Idioms (Intermediate)

Jake changes jobs a lot. He thinks the _______ is always greener on the other side.​

• grass

• tree

• weather

• field

Answer explanation

The grass is always greener on the other side (of the fence): Thinking that other people’s situation or life seems better than your own though it is often not true in reality.

The thief was breaking into the house when a police car drove by and caught him ______________.

• red-faced

• red-handed

• red-nose

• red-eyed

Answer explanation

Catch somebody red-handed: to catch a person in the act of doing something wrong.

Unlike his well-behaved siblings, he has always been naughty, causing trouble for his parents, such a black ________ of the family.

• dog

• cat

• bird

• sheep

Answer explanation

Black sheep of the family: One who is different from other family members or group, sometimes due to intentional rebelliousness, and often viewed unfavorably by them.

That new student is very arrogant and often acts as if he is of blue ________. In reality, he comes from just a middle-class family.

• blood

• family

• stock

• name

Answer explanation

Blue blood: someone that was born into a noble family or belongs to the highest social class.

I’m completely exhausted now because we had to catch a __________ flight last night to come here in time.

• red-light

• red-card

• red-ticket

• red-eye

Answer explanation

Red-eye flight: A flight that leaves late at night and arrives early in the morning.

Karen was ________ with envy when she saw you get a new phone for Valentine's Day and she only got chocolate.

• blue

• green

• yellow

• red

Answer explanation

Green with envy: used to describe someone who is extremely jealous that others have what he/she wants.

I'm not surprised Tim did not joined us on the bungee jump, he's too _________ to do adventurous stuff!

• blue

• white

• yellow

• red

Answer explanation

To be yellow: You are yellow when you are too scared to do something. To have no courage.

We also see this meaning used in the phrase yellow-belly (noun) or yellow-bellied (adj)

He was born with a silver _________ in his mouth and has never done any hard work in his life.

• coin

• tooth

• spoon

• candy

Answer explanation

Silver spoon: to be born into a very rich family and having a privileged upbringing.

That new office building has turned into a _________ elephant now because no one wants to rent office spaces there.

• red

• green

• black

• white

Answer explanation

White elephant: an expensive item, possession or property that is not useful or practical and costs a lot to keep or maintain.

The term comes from a story about the king of Siam, who was said to have given an albino elephant, considered sacred, to a member of the court whom he disliked, knowing that taking care of the animal would exhaust the person's fortune.

Having more free time to take care of myself and my family is the only __________ lining to losing my job.

• silver

• golden

• white

• bright

Answer explanation

Silver lining: an advantage that comes from a difficult or unpleasant situation. Sometimes people use the full proverb “Every cloud has a silver lining” to say that every bad situation has some good aspect to it.