Brighten Up Your English With Color Idioms 🎨

If you're looking for a way to make your everyday English sound more natural and expressive, we have a suggestion: idioms based on colors! 

From casual conversations to professional discussions, fluent English speakers use color idioms in many different situations. This article will explain some of the most common examples.

Are there any similar idioms in your native language?

English Color Idioms

Paint the town red

Meaning: to go out and have a wild, fun time

We're going to paint the town red to celebrate our graduation.

Red in the face

Meaning: very embarrassed

Bryan was red in the face after tripping on the staircase. 

See red

Meaning: to be extremely angry

We need to clean up this mess fast or my parents will be seeing red.

Related article: Flipping Out: 13 Ways to Express Anger in English 

In the red

Meaning: in debt, owing money

The company has been in the red for months due to low sales.

Green with envy

Meaning: very jealous

Simon was green with envy at his colleague's promotion.

Give/Get the green light

Meaning: to tell or be told that it's OK to start a project

We can't begin working until our boss gives us the green light.

Feel blue

Meaning: to be sad or depressed

Cloudy days always make me feel blue.

Once in a blue moon

Meaning: very rarely

I meet my childhood friends once in a blue moon.

Related article: 7 Alternatives for "Sometimes"

Black and blue

Meaning: (for skin) beaten or damaged

Mark's face was black and blue after the fight.

In the black

Meaning: profitable, the opposite of "in the red"

After several months of being in debt, we're now back in the black with healthy growth.

Black sheep

Meaning: a member of a group who is different from the others

Joan is the black sheep of the family; she's a musician while everyone else is a doctor.

The new black

Meaning: very popular or fashionable 

For fashionistas, green is the new black this season.

For this generation, 80's-style pop music is the new black.

Tickled pink

Meaning: very pleased or happy about something

She was tickled pink when she received a surprise gift from her friend.

White lie

Meaning: a small lie that's considered harmless

Even white lies can sometimes lead to big problems.

Wave the white flag

Meaning: to give up, to quit

We can't wave the white flag; we have to keep on fighting!

Wrap-up

These colorful idioms help to spice up English conversations, whether they're happening between friends on the street or between professionals in a conference room.

For more fun and practical English, check out our articles on "brain" idioms and idioms about money.

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