List of Popular Phrases that Include Color Written by Kate Smith, CMG, CfYH BLUE
Out of the blue: unexpected True blue: to be loyal or faithful Once in a blue moon: an event that occurs infrequently [see article: "Once in a Blue Moon"] Blue ribbon: first place; to describe something as being of the highest quality Blue blood: an aristocrat [see article: "Blue Blood for Silver Spoons"] Blue law: laws about morality issues Blue comedy: jokes about socially taboo subjects Blueprint: a detailed design of an object or idea Blue plate special: a special priced meal at a restaurant Bluestocking: a woman with strong scholarly interests Feeling blue: to feel sad or unhappy GREEN
Get the green light: get approval to move ahead or proceed with a project or task Green corn: the young, tender ears of Indian corn Green thumb (US) or Green fingers (UK): an unusual ability to make plants grow Green room: a room (in a theater or studio) where performers can relax before or after appearances Greenback: a legal-tender note issued by the United States government Greener pastures: something newer or better (or perceived to be better), such as a new job Green with envy: jealous or envious [see article: "Green With Envy"] Greenhorn: novice, trainee, beginner [see article: "He Wasn't All Greenhorn"] Green around the gills: marked by a pale, sickly, or nauseated appearance Turn green: to look pale and ill as if you are going to vomit Going green: when someone or something makes changes to help protect the environment, or reduces waste or pollution YELLOW
Yellowbellied: a cowardly manner Yellow fever: a disease involving high fever and jaundice that is common in the tropics Yellow jack: a flag flown on a vessel to show that it is under quarantine Yellowdog contract: a contract which denies a person the right to join a worker's union Yellow journalism: newspaper articles thought to be sensationalized in order to sell more papers [see article: "The Yellow Journalism Wars"] BROWN
Brown sugar: partially refined sugar Brown bagging: to bring a homemade packed lunch to work Brown out: a partial loss of electrical power [see article: Three Types of Brownout] Brownstone: a building made out of dark colored sandstone In a brown study: describing someone as being in deep thought GRAY
Gray market: the business of buying or selling items that are priced below what has been regulated Gray mood: an unhappy mood Gray area: caught between two differing views RED
Red carpet treatment: giving privileged treatment to an important person Caught red-handed: clearly guilty Red in the face: to become embarrassed Seeing red: to be angered Red flag: a warning of danger Not worth a red cent: having no value Red letter day: a memorable, joyful day [see article: "It's a Red Letter Day"] Red tape: excessive formalities in governmental process [see article: "Cutting Through Red Tape"] In the red: a term to describe an economic loss Scarlet letter: a punitive mark of adultery that originated with the novel (1850) The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. PINK
Tickled pink: to be happy In the pink: in good health -- this phrase hasn't always had this meaning.[see article: "Being in the Pink"] Pinking shears: scissors with serrated blades A pink elephant: term to describe hallucinations during intoxication Pinkie finger: the smallest finger on the human hand Pink slip: notice that employment is ending Pink collar: refers to a particular class of jobs once only filled by women PURPLE
Purple prose: an elaborately written poem or paragraph in literature Purple heart: a medal awarded to a US soldier wounded in battle Born to the purple: a person who is born into a noble or royal family Lay it out in lavender: very cool, relaxed, and in control WHITE
White Christmas: the appearance of snow on Christmas day White elephant: a possession that no longer holds value for its owner [see article: White Elephant: Revered or Revenge] White flag: the signal of a peaceful surrender White goods: a description of household items, such as linens, towels, and appliances White hot: extreme manner of intensity White lie: a harmless untruth usually told out of politeness [see article: The Short, Sweet Truth About White Lies] White sauce: a sauce made from stock, butter, flour and seasonings White feather: a symbol of cowardliness BLACK
Black comedy: creating comedy out of a tragic event or situation Black coffee: coffee without milk Black belt: the highest awarded belt in the martial arts Blackball: voting against someone in a secret manner to prevent them from becoming a member of a club Blackmail: to demand payment or action by means of a threat Black sheep: a bad character in an otherwise respectable group Black day: a bad day; often used before the name of a particular day to symbolize a tragic event, such as black Tuesday or black Friday.
