Color expressions are phrases and idioms in English that use colors to convey specific meanings, emotions, or ideas. These expressions often go beyond the literal meaning of the color and can be used in various contexts to make your communication more vivid and interesting.
Common Color Expressions
Here are some of the most common color expressions you’ll encounter in English, along with their meanings and example sentences.
Red
- Meaning: Anger, danger, embarrassment, or financial loss
- Example: She was red with anger when she found out.
| English Expression | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| see red | become very angry | He saw red when he was blamed. |
| red tape | excessive bureaucracy | We’re stuck in red tape. |
| in the red | losing money | The company is in the red. |
| catch someone red-handed | catch someone doing something wrong | They caught him red-handed. |
| red flag | warning sign | That’s a red flag in the contract. |
Blue
- Meaning: Sadness, calmness, or something official
- Example: She felt blue after the breakup.
| English Expression | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| feel blue | feel sad | I’m feeling blue today. |
| out of the blue | unexpectedly | He called me out of the blue. |
| once in a blue moon | very rarely | We meet once in a blue moon. |
| blue blood | noble or royal birth | She’s from a blue blood family. |
| true blue | loyal and faithful | He’s a true blue friend. |
Green
- Meaning: Envy, inexperience, or environmental awareness
- Example: He was green with envy over her promotion.
| English Expression | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| green with envy | very jealous | She was green with envy. |
| go green | be environmentally friendly | We should go green. |
| greenhorn | beginner or inexperienced person | He’s a greenhorn at cooking. |
| the grass is always greener | others’ situations seem better | The grass is always greener on the other side. |
| green light | permission to proceed | We got the green light for the project. |
What does 'greenhorn' mean?
beginner or inexperienced person
'Greenhorn' is a slang term for someone who is new or inexperienced at something.
Yellow
- Meaning: Cowardice, caution, or illness
- Example: Don’t be yellow—just try it!
| English Expression | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| yellow-bellied | cowardly | Don’t be yellow-bellied! |
| yellow card | warning (in sports or behavior) | He received a yellow card. |
| yellow journalism | sensationalist news | That’s yellow journalism. |
| catch a yellow fever | become sick | He caught yellow fever abroad. |
| yellow light | a signal to be cautious | The yellow light means slow down. |
Black
- Meaning: Evil, death, formality, or financial profit
- Example: He wore a black suit to the funeral.
| English Expression | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| black sheep | the odd or bad member | He’s the family black sheep. |
| black market | illegal trade | They bought it on the black market. |
| black out | lose consciousness | She blacked out at the party. |
| in the black | making a profit | The business is in the black. |
| black tie | formal dress code | The event is black tie only. |
If a business is 'in the black,' it is _____ money.
making a profit
'In the black' means a business is profitable, referring to black ink in accounting.
White
- Meaning: Purity, innocence, or surrender
- Example: She wore a white dress on her wedding day.
| English Expression | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| white lie | harmless or small lie | I told a white lie to avoid hurt feelings. |
| white flag | symbol of surrender | They raised the white flag. |
| white as a sheet | very pale | She was white as a sheet. |
| white knight | rescuer or savior | He acted like a white knight. |
| whitewash | cover up wrongdoing | The report was a whitewash. |
Other Colors
| English Expression | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| tickled pink (pink) | very happy | She was tickled pink with the gift. |
| out of the purple (purple) | born into royalty | He was born out of the purple. |
| gray area (grey) | unclear situation | The law is a gray area. |
| brown-nose (brown) | overly flattering | He’s always brown-nosing the boss. |
| golden opportunity (gold) | excellent chance | This is a golden opportunity. |
A 'golden opportunity' is an opportunity that is _____.
excellent or very valuable
A 'golden opportunity' means a chance that is very valuable and should not be missed.
Tips for Using Color Expressions
- Context Matters: Make sure the expression fits the situation.
- Tone: Some are formal, others are casual or slang.
- Avoid Literal Translation: These are idioms, so don’t translate them word-for-word.
Flashcards (1 of 35)
- Meaning: become very angry
- Example Sentence: He saw red when he was blamed.
- English Expression: see red
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
