Color Expressions
Color expressions in French go beyond simple vocabulary. Many common phrases and idioms use colors to convey emotions, describe situations, or add vivid imagery. Here are some key French color expressions organized by color.
Red Expressions
Red in French often relates to emotions like anger, embarrassment, or urgency.
Common Red Expressions
The phrase avoir le sang chaud means “to have hot blood,” suggesting a person who gets angry or passionate quickly.
More Red Expressions
- rouge comme une tomate — as red as a tomato (very red, often from embarrassment)
- voir tout en rouge — to see everything in red (to be angry or pessimistic)
- être dans le rouge — to be “in the red” (to be in debt)
- rougir de honte — to blush with shame
- tirer au rouge — to draw red (used in betting or drawing lots)
- rouge à lèvres — lipstick
- rouge vif — bright red
- passer au rouge — to run a red light
- feu rouge — red light (traffic signal)
| Français | Anglais | Français | Anglais |
|---|---|---|---|
| avoir le sang chaud | to have a hot temper | rouge comme une tomate | as red as a tomato |
| voir tout en rouge | to see everything in red | être dans le rouge | to be in debt |
| rougir de honte | to blush with shame | tirer au rouge | to draw red |
| rouge à lèvres | lipstick | rouge vif | bright red |
| passer au rouge | to run a red light | feu rouge | red traffic light |
Blue Expressions
Blue often relates to moods, states of being, or weather.
Common Blue Expressions
The expression avoir le blues is borrowed from English and means “to feel down” or “to be blue.”
More Blue Expressions
- être fleur bleue — to be overly sentimental or naive
- bleu de travail — work overalls (blue work clothes)
- ciel bleu — blue sky
- se mettre en bleu — to dress in blue
- ne pas être dans son assiette — although not containing “bleu,” this phrase involves the idea of being out of sorts; sometimes related to feeling “blue.”
- bleu marine — navy blue
- bleu roi — royal blue
- avoir une peur bleue — to be terribly afraid
- un chagrin bleu — deep sorrow
| Français | Anglais | Français | Anglais |
|---|---|---|---|
| avoir le blues | to feel blue/sad | être fleur bleue | to be naive/sentimental |
| bleu de travail | work overalls | ciel bleu | blue sky |
| se mettre en bleu | to dress in blue | bleu marine | navy blue |
| bleu roi | royal blue | avoir une peur bleue | to be terribly afraid |
| un chagrin bleu | deep sorrow |
What does the French phrase 'avoir le blues' mean?
to feel blue/sad
'Avoir le blues' is borrowed from English and means to feel down or sad.
What does 'être fleur bleue' describe?
to be naive/sentimental
'Être fleur bleue' is a French expression meaning to be overly naive or sentimental, especially in matters of love.
Green Expressions
Green is often connected to envy, nature, and freshness.
Common Green Expressions
The phrase être vert de jalousie means “to be green with jealousy.”
More Green Expressions
- mettre au vert — to take a break in the countryside or to go on a diet
- un billet vert — a green bill (U.S. dollar note)
- avoir la main verte — to have a green thumb (to be good at gardening)
- passer au vert — to turn green (e.g., a traffic light)
- vert pomme — apple green
- envoyer quelqu’un sur les roses — to send someone away rudely (not green but useful)
- vert foncé — dark green
- vert d’eau — water green/mint green
| Français | Anglais | Français | Anglais |
|---|---|---|---|
| être vert de jalousie | to be green with envy | mettre au vert | to take a break in the country |
| un billet vert | a green dollar bill | avoir la main verte | to have a green thumb |
| passer au vert | to turn green (light) | vert pomme | apple green |
| vert foncé | dark green | vert d’eau | mint green |
Black and White Expressions
Black and white are often used to denote clarity, contrast, or formality.
Black Expressions
- avoir une peur noire — to be terribly afraid
- noyer le poisson — to confuse the issue (literally “to drown the fish,” often associated with dark/black waters)
- c’est pas noir ou blanc — it’s not black or white (it’s not simple)
- un vêtement noir — black clothing
White Expressions
- être blanc comme un linge — to be pale as a sheet
- filer à l’anglaise — to leave without saying goodbye (not color-related but common)
- avoir un carton blanc — to have a clean slate/free rein
- blanc bonnet, bonnet blanc — six of one, half a dozen of the other
| Français | Anglais | Français | Anglais |
|---|---|---|---|
| avoir une peur noire | to be terribly afraid | être blanc comme un linge | to be very pale |
| c’est pas noir ou blanc | it’s not black or white | avoir un carton blanc | to have a clean slate |
| blanc bonnet, bonnet blanc | six of one, half a dozen of the other |
Additional Useful Expressions
These idioms use colors metaphorically and are useful for everyday conversation.
Mixed Color Expressions
- voir la vie en rose — to see life through rose-colored glasses (to be overly optimistic)
- donner le feu vert — to give the green light (to give permission)
- avoir la main noire — to be unlucky or have a “black hand”
- passer au bleu — to go on a short leave from work (common in France)
- mettre quelqu’un dans le rouge — to put someone in debt or trouble
| Français | Anglais | Français | Anglais |
|---|---|---|---|
| voir la vie en rose | to see life through rose-colored glasses | donner le feu vert | to give the green light |
| avoir la main noire | to be unlucky | passer au bleu | to take a short leave from work |
| mettre quelqu’un dans le rouge | to put someone in debt |
Color expressions add depth and nuance to your French. Don’t hesitate to use them to make your speech more vivid and natural.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
