Join us as we dive into the splendid world of color idioms—a vibrant tapestry of language that brings expression and flair to our everyday conversations!
Painting the Town Red
On a sunny Saturday, Sarah was feeling blue (1) after receiving some disappointing news about her job application. Her best friend, Emily, decided it was time to cheer her up. “Let’s paint the town red (2) tonight!” she suggested, hoping to lift Sarah’s spirits.
As they prepared for their night out, Emily warned, “Just remember to avoid any red flags (3) in conversation. We don’t want to get into anything too serious!” Sarah chuckled, knowing that it was a typical part of their fun.
Once they arrived at their favorite café, Sarah spotted a group of friends who seemed to be having the time of their lives, dancing and laughing. She couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy, thinking they looked green with envy (4) at their carefree lifestyle.
After a few drinks, Emily declared, “Let’s hit the dance floor! Life is too short to worry about those white lies (5) we tell ourselves about being too old for this!” With a smile, Sarah agreed. The music was infectious, and soon they were both tickled pink (6), losing themselves in the rhythm.
Suddenly, a couple walked in, drawing attention with their glamorous outfits. Sarah whispered, “Wow, they have that blue blood (7) vibe, don’t they?” Emily nodded, “Yeah, but they’re just people like us. Let’s not get caught red-handed (8) in the act of judging!”
As the night went on, they stumbled into a gray area (9) of conversation with some new acquaintances. But they managed to navigate it, focusing on the fun instead of the heavy stuff.
By the end of the night, Sarah felt rejuvenated. As they walked home under the moonlight, she realized that even though things might seem bleak sometimes, moments like these come once in a blue moon (10).
- to feel blue – to feel sad
- to paint the town red – to go to a lot of different bars, clubs, etc. and enjoy yourself
- a red flag – a sign that something is not right or something bad may happen
- to be green with envy – to be very jealous
- a white lie – a small lie, especially one that you tell to avoid hurting somebody
- to be tickled pink – to be very pleased (related: “Happy English or 25+ Ways to Say “I’m Happy””)
- blue blood – the fact of being from a royal or noble family
- to catch someone red-handed – to catch somebody in the act of doing something wrong or committing a crime
- a gray area – an area of a subject or situation that is not clear or does not fit into a particular group and is therefore difficult to define or deal with
- once in a blue moon – very rarely
Practice 1
Let’s practice using the idioms from the text above. Click the link here and complete the sentences with the right idioms.
More Idioms
| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
| out of the blue | unexpectedly | She called me out of the blue after not speaking for years. |
| red tape | excessive bureaucracy or regulations that delay or complicate processes | The project is stalled due to the red tape involved in getting approvals. |
| in the red | operating at a financial loss | After several months of poor sales, the company found itself in the red. |
| in the black | operating at a profit | Thanks to their successful marketing campaign, the business is finally in the black. |
| yellow-bellied | cowardly | He’s too yellow-bellied to stand up for what he believes in. |
| to have a yellow streak | to be cowardly | I can’t believe he backed down from the challenge; he really has a yellow streak. |
| black and white | straightforward, without ambiguity | The rules are black and white; there’s no room for interpretation. |
| in the pink | in good health | After her vacation, she returned to work feeling in the pink. |
| to see red | to become very angry | When he found out about the betrayal, he saw red |
| true blue | loyal and dependable | She’s been my true blue friend through thick and thin. |
| black sheep | a person who is different or an outcast in a group, often due to their behavior | He’s the black sheep of the family, always getting into trouble. |
| to give someone the green light / to give something the green light | to give permission | 1) We finally got the green light to start construction on the new building. 2) The council has given the green light to the new shopping centre. |
| white elephant | a possession that is more trouble than it is worth; costly to maintain | That old car is a white elephant; it breaks down constantly. |
| to have a green thumb | to have a natural talent for gardening | She has a green thumb; her garden is always blooming beautifully. |
| red hot | very intense, passionate, or popular; often used to describe something that is in high demand | The new smartphone is red hot and selling out everywhere. |
| white hot | extremely intense or powerful (passion, anger, or popularity) | His white spot enthusiasm is his key to success. |
| black-hearted | cruel | His black-hearted actions shock everyone in the community. |
| to have the blues | = to feel blue | After hearing the news, she really had the blues and couldn’t shake off the feeling all day. |
| blue in the face | exhausted and speechless, as from excessive anger, physical strain, etc. | I could talk to him until I’m blue in the face, but he won’t listen. |
| to see things in black and white | to have a very clear-cut view of a situation, often ignoring the nuances | She tends to see things in black and white, making it hard for her to understand different perspectives. |
Practice 2
Click the link here and type in the correct idiom for each picture. Make sure you type it exactly as it appears in the table above. The first 10 idioms from this post may also appear in the exercise.
Would you like more practice with the idioms? Write up to 5 sentences using different idioms from this post and share them in the comments below. We promise to get back to you with feedback!
Enguroo Online English School 