IDIOMS AND OTHER EXPRESSIONS USING COLOURS

CHECK YOUR ENGLISH VOCABULARY FOR PHRASAL VERBS AND IDIOMS

IDIOMS AND OTHER EXPRESSIONS USING COLOURS

Complete sentences 1 – 34 with one of the colours from the box. Each colour can be used to complete or make an idiom or other expression (in bold). Some of the colours have to be used more than once. Each idiom is explained in the answer key at the back of the book.

black       blue        brown       green        grey        pink         red         white          yellow

1	Elsa congratulated me on getting the job, but I could tell that secretly she was _____ with envy.
2	Generally I'm a very calm, relaxed person. But when people are rude to me, I start to see _____.
3	I very rarely see my parents these days. They only come to visit once in a _____ moon.
4	Everyone in my family is a teacher, but I decided from a young age that I wanted to be an actor. I guess I've always been the _____ sheep.
5	My wife asked me if I liked her new dress. Well, I thought it was horrible, but of course I told her it looked wonderful. You have to tell a little _____ lie from time to time, don't you?
6	I hate applying for a new passport. There's so much _____ tape involved.
7	You can ask me to lend you money until you're _____ in the face, but my answer is still 'No'.
8	When Maria was attacked in the street, instead of running away she started screaming _____ murder until someone came to her help.
9	The best way to stay in the _____ is to eat sensibly, take regular exercise, drink in moderation and not smoke.
10	I think the new underground railway is a _____ elephant. The city already has a very efficient bus and tram system.
11	Everyone in my department is very happy because the project we've been working on for six months has finally been given the _____ light.
12	There were 200 people in a room designed for only 75. It was like the _____ Hole of Calcutta in there.
13	Your report is full of errors and spelling mistakes. I don't think you were using your _____ matter when you wrote it.
14	You must hear the new album by the American rock group Nuclear Puppy: it's _____-hot!
15	I had a real _____-letter day yesterday: my boss gave me a pay rise, I won £60 on the lottery, and my boyfriend took me to my favourite restaurant for dinner.
16	Most of the people in my town are _____-collar workers. There are very few people working in factories.
17	The company has been doing badly for over two years, and now everyone agrees that it's a financial _____ hole.
18	Nobody in the office likes him very much: he's always _____-nosing the boss.
19	Your garden looks wonderful. What lovely, healthy plants. You must have _____ fingers!
20	I hadn't heard from Jo for almost ten years, so when a letter from her came out of the _____, I was naturally very surprised.
21	He would never argue with or contradict his boss. He's far too _____.
22	Yesterday I had an overdraft of almost £300, but I got paid today, so my bank account is in the _____ again. Unfortunately I don't think it will stay like that for long!
23	Nobody knew who had been stealing money from the office, until the new salesman was caught _____-handed opening the safe.
24	I feel terrible this morning because I was out painting the town _____ last night, and didn't go to bed until 3 o'clock.
25	If I were you, I would avoid the boss today. You're in his _____ books after that rude comment you made about his wife.
26	I know he was angry, but I was still shocked at the terrible language he was using. The air was turning _____!
27	(At a party): Hello, Anthea. Thanks for coming. Lovely to see you again. Let me get you a drink. Glass of _____?
28	I wouldn't recommend him for a senior position in management: he's still a bit _____.
29	When I told Sara that I wanted to go out for a drink with my ex-girlfriend, she didn't say anything, but she gave me a really _____ look.
30	There wasn't much we could do when we discovered that the office had been robbed except call the police station and wait for the boys in _____ to arrive.
31	What's the matter with you? You've been in a _____ mood all evening.
32	It's only my parents who are coming to dinner tonight, not the Queen of England! There's no need to roll out the _____ carpet.
33	(Complete this sentence with two different colours): I was told that I had got the job at the interview, but I won't be happy until I see it in _____ and _____.
34	(Complete this sentence with two different colours): After falling off his bicycle, he was _____ and _____ all over.

ANSWER KEY

1. green. A person who is green with envy is very jealous (= envious) of the success of others. Jealousy / envy is sometimes humorously referred to as the green-eyed monster. We sometimes say that a jealous person has a green streak in them. 2. red. When someone sees red, they become very angry. We sometimes say that they get the red mist. Something that is likely to make an angry person even more angry can be described as a red rag to a bull: "Don't ask Charles why his wife left him; that would be like showing a red rag to a bull". If you become extremely angry, we can say that you go purple with rage. A person who loses his / her temper can be said to lose their rag, fly off the handle or blow their top. 3. blue. If something happens once in a blue moon, it happens very rarely. 4. black. Someone who is described as the black sheep (of the family) is different from the other members of his / her family, and is not approved of by other members of the family. 5. white. If you tell a white lie, you tell someone something that is not true in order to avoid hurting their feelings. 6. red. Red tape refers to documents, rules or processes that cause delay. 7. blue. If someone says that you can do something until you're blue in the face, they are telling you that there is no point in doing it because you will not be successful (we can also use the expression until the cows come home). 8. blue. If you scream blue murder, you shout very loudly because you are angry, frightened or in pain. 9. pink. If you are in the pink, you are healthy and happy. This is an old fashioned expression. 10. white. A white elephant is something that costs a lot of money and is not very useful. 11. green. When somebody gives you the green light, they are giving you their official approval for something to be done. This can also be a verb, to greenlight: "Three directors have greenlighted the project". We can also say give the go-ahead or be given the go-ahead. 12. Black. If a place is described as being like the Black Hole of Calcutta, it is very crowded and uncomfortable (it comes from the informal name of a former prison in the Indian city of Calcutta, which was so hot and small that many people died there). 13. grey. Your grey matter is your brain. We can also say use your head or use your loaf. 14. red. Something that is described as red-hot is very good or very exciting. This can also be used to describe someone who is very popular or successful: A new red-hot American band. The word white could also be used here. 15. red. A red letter day is a very happy or exciting day. 16. white. White-collar workers work in offices rather than doing physical work. People who work in factories, down mines, etc, are called blue-collar workers. 17. black. A black hole, in this context, is a situation in which lots of money is spent without bringing any benefits. We can also say a money pit. 18. brown. If you brown-nose someone who is important or powerful, you try very hard to please them by agreeing with them all the time. This can also be a noun: a brown-noser. It is not a polite expression. A man who always agrees with his boss might be called a yes-man and is always sucking up to his boss. 19. green. Somebody who has green fingers is very good at making plants and flowers grow. In American English you would have a green thumb. 20. blue. When something happens out of the blue, it is sudden and unexpected. If it is a big surprise or a big shock, we can say that it is a bolt from the blue. 21. yellow. A person who is yellow is cowardly (= not very brave). We sometimes say that a cowardly person has a yellow streak in them. 22. black. A bank account that is in the black has money in it. When the account is overdrawn (= less than £0 in it, and the account holder owes money to the bank), we say that it is in the red.   23. red. If a person is caught redhanded, he / she is caught doing something wrong (we can also say caught in the act). The salesman in this situation is committing a white-collar crime: see number 16 above. 24. red. When you paint the town red, you enjoy yourself by going to bars and clubs. We can also say that you go out on the town or go out on the razzle. 25. black. If you are in someone's black books, you are in trouble with them because of something you have said or done. We can also say that you are in the doghouse (with someone): Poor old Bob's in the doghouse with his wife: he forgot their anniversary again. 26. blue. When the air is turning blue, someone is swearing (= using very rude words) a lot in a loud voice. We can also say that the person who is swearing is turning the air blue. 27. red / white. A glass of red / white is an informal, shortened expression for a glass of red / white wine. 28. green. Somebody who is described as green, or a bit green, is not very experienced at something, usually because he / she is young. We can also say that they are a bit wet behind the ears. Note that green is also frequently used to talk about the environment, and the protection of the environment: a green transport policy, greener farming methods, green campaigners, the Green Party, etc). 29. black. When someone gives you a black look, they look at you in a very angry way. 30. blue. The boys in blue is an informal (and usually friendly) expression for the police. 31. black. If you are in a black mood, you are unhappy or angry and in a bad mood. 32. red. If you roll out the red carpet for somebody, you give them special treatment because they are important. 33. black and white. Something that is in black and white is written on paper (for example, a letter or a contract). Note that we cannot say white and black. Do not confuse this with "Black or white?" (an expression that is used when we want to know if someone wants milk in their tea or coffee). 34. black and blue. Someone who is black and blue (all over) is covered with bruises (= dark marks on the skin caused by an accident, or perhaps because they have been hit by someone or something). Note that we cannot say blue and black.