Understanding Color Idioms, Sayings, Phrases, And Expressions

Color idioms splash our conversations with vivid shades and rich textures, transforming our words into a palette of memorable and impactful expressions.

Prepare to immerse yourself in a spectrum of color idioms, each with its own unique hue, fascinating backstory, synonyms, and illustrative example sentences.

From expressions like “green with envy” to understanding what it means to be “in the red,” this guide is your key to adding a burst of brilliance and depth to your vocabulary.

Ideal for language lovers, creative writers, or anyone eager to brighten their dialogue, our collection of color idioms will paint your speech with lively imagery and vibrant nuances.

Get ready to dive into the colorful world of idioms and uncover the captivating stories behind these expressions that add a dazzling spectrum of meaning to our language!

Common Color Idioms & Expressions – Meaning, Origin, And Example Sentence

In The Red

Synonym: In Debt
Meaning: To be in financial trouble or owe money.
Origin: This idiom comes from accounting practices where red ink indicated a negative balance, a practice common from the 16th century onward.
Example Sentence: The company is in the red after several poor financial quarters.

Tickled Pink

Synonym: Delighted
Meaning: Very pleased or happy.
Origin: The phrase “tickled pink” has been used since the 18th century, likely originating from the idea of being so happy that it brings a flush of color to one’s cheeks.
Example Sentence: She was tickled pink with the surprise party her friends threw for her.

Green With Envy

Synonym: Jealous
Meaning: Feeling envious or jealous of someone else’s success or possessions.
Origin: Green has long been associated with jealousy, with Shakespeare referencing it in “Othello” (16th century) as the “green-eyed monster.”
Example Sentence: He was green with envy when he saw his colleague’s new car.

Out Of The Blue

Synonym: Unexpected
Meaning: Something happening unexpectedly or suddenly.
Origin: This phrase likely refers to the sudden appearance of a storm or event from an otherwise clear blue sky, dating back to the 19th century.
Example Sentence: Her promotion came out of the blue, and she wasn’t expecting it at all.

White Elephant

Synonym: Expensive Burden
Meaning: A costly item that is difficult to maintain and not very useful.
Origin: The term comes from ancient Southeast Asia (around the 4th century BCE), where white elephants were considered sacred but costly to keep.
Example Sentence: The old factory turned into a white elephant for the company, draining resources without any benefit.

Caught Red Handed

Synonym: In The Act
Meaning: To be caught in the act of doing something wrong or illegal.
Origin: The term comes from the practice of catching someone with blood on their hands after committing a crime, used since the 15th century.
Example Sentence: The thief was caught red handed trying to steal the wallet from the purse.

Black Sheep

Synonym: Outsider
Meaning: A person who is considered different or an outcast within a group or family.
Origin: The term refers to the rare black sheep in a flock of white sheep, symbolizing something unusual or undesirable, used since the 16th century.
Example Sentence: He always felt like the black sheep of his family because of his unconventional lifestyle.

Feeling Blue

Synonym: Sad
Meaning: Feeling sad or depressed.
Origin: The term is believed to come from the association of the color blue with sadness in Western culture, dating back to the 19th century.
Example Sentence: She’s been feeling blue ever since her friend moved away.

Yellow Bellied

Synonym: Cowardly
Meaning: Lacking courage or bravery.
Origin: The term might have originated from the idea of yellow as a color associated with cowardice, often depicted in cartoons and literature from the 19th century.
Example Sentence: Don’t be so yellow bellied; stand up for yourself.

Green Light

Synonym: Approval
Meaning: Permission to proceed with something.
Origin: The green traffic light signifies go, which translates to giving approval or permission, a concept from the 20th century.
Example Sentence: The manager gave the green light to start the new project.

Red Herring

Synonym: Distraction
Meaning: Something that distracts attention from the real issue.
Origin: The term originally referred to a strong-smelling fish used to mislead hunting dogs during training, a practice from the 16th century.
Example Sentence: The sudden focus on the competitor’s minor mistake was a red herring in the debate.

White Lie

Synonym: Innocent Deception
Meaning: A harmless or trivial lie, usually told to avoid hurting someone’s feelings.
Origin: The term implies that the lie is “white” and therefore harmless, in contrast to more serious falsehoods, used since the 19th century.
Example Sentence: She told a white lie about liking the gift to avoid hurting his feelings.

Blue Moon

Synonym: Rare Event
Meaning: An event that happens very rarely.
Origin: The term refers to the second full moon in a calendar month, which occurs infrequently, first recorded in the 16th century.
Example Sentence: It’s a blue moon occurrence when we get a snowstorm in August.

Blackout

Synonym: Power Outage
Meaning: A temporary loss of electricity or a memory lapse.
Origin: The term “blackout” refers to a complete loss of light or memory, often due to a sudden event, used since the 20th century.
Example Sentence: The blackout during the storm left the entire neighborhood in darkness.

Red Carpet

Synonym: Special Treatment
Meaning: Special treatment or a ceremonious welcome.
Origin: The red carpet has historically been used for special occasions and royal events to signify honor, with origins from ancient Rome (1st century BCE).
Example Sentence: The movie star was given the red carpet treatment at the film festival.

Pink Slip

Synonym: Termination Notice
Meaning: A notice of dismissal from employment.
Origin: The term comes from the pink-colored slips used for termination notices in some businesses, used since the early 20th century.
Example Sentence: He received his pink slip after the company downsized.

Green Thumb

Synonym: Gardening Skill
Meaning: An aptitude for gardening or growing plants.
Origin: The phrase suggests that having a green thumb is associated with a natural ability to grow plants well, used since the 20th century.
Example Sentence: She has a green thumb and can make any plant thrive.

In The Black

Synonym: Profitable
Meaning: Financially solvent or profitable.
Origin: Refers to positive financial status indicated by black ink in accounting, used since the 20th century.
Example Sentence: After a successful quarter, the company is finally in the black.

Whitewash

Synonym: Cover-Up
Meaning: To cover up undesirable facts or to make something seem better than it is.
Origin: From painting over something with whitewash, used since the 18th century.
Example Sentence: The company’s attempt to whitewash the scandal did not convince the public.

Brown Nose

Synonym: Suck-Up
Meaning: To try to gain favor with someone by being overly flattering or eager to please.
Origin: The term, dating back to the 20th century, uses “brown” to suggest excessive flattery, as in trying to get close to someone influential.
Example Sentence: He was accused of being a brown-nose to get a promotion.

Blue Blood

Synonym: Aristocracy
Meaning: Of noble or high social status.
Origin: From the belief that noble families had blue veins due to their pale skin, used since the 16th century.
Example Sentence: She comes from a blue blooded family with a long history of aristocracy.

Black Market

Synonym: Illegal Trade
Meaning: The illegal trade of goods and services.
Origin: Refers to illicit activities operating outside legal regulations, used since the 19th century.
Example Sentence: The black market for rare antiques is difficult to monitor.

Red Tape

Synonym: Bureaucratic Delays
Meaning: Excessive regulation or rigid conformity to formal rules.
Origin: From the 16th century practice of using red tape to bind official documents.
Example Sentence: Getting the necessary permits was hampered by red tape.

Blue Chip

Synonym: High-Quality Investment
Meaning: A high-value or high-quality investment or asset.
Origin: From poker, where blue chips are the highest value, used in financial contexts since the 20th century.
Example Sentence: Investing in blue-chip stocks is considered a safe bet for financial growth.

Blue Collar

Synonym: Manual Labor
Meaning: Relating to workers who perform manual labor or are employed in industrial jobs.
Origin: The term originated in the early 20th century and refers to the blue uniforms worn by manual laborers.
Example Sentence: He has worked in blue-collar jobs all his life, including factory work and construction.

White Knight

Synonym: Rescuer
Meaning: A person or entity that saves another from a difficult situation, often in business.
Origin: The term comes from chivalric tales of the 12th century, where a white knight rescues others.
Example Sentence: The company was saved from bankruptcy by a white knight investor.

Seeing Red

Synonym: Anger
Meaning: Feeling very angry.
Origin: The term, dating back to the 17th century, suggests that anger can make one see everything in red, symbolizing rage.
Example Sentence: She was seeing red after discovering that her report had been misplaced.

Black Tie

Synonym: Formal Attire
Meaning: Referring to a formal dress code that requires a tuxedo.
Origin: The term originated in the 19th century, referring to the black tie or bow tie worn with formal evening attire.
Example Sentence: The gala was a black tie event, so everyone was dressed in tuxedos.

Gray Area

Synonym: Unclear Situation
Meaning: An unclear or undefined situation where rules or standards are not clear.
Origin: The term emerged in the 20th century and refers to the ambiguity or lack of clear definition, unlike black and white situations.
Example Sentence: The legal implications of the new policy were a gray area.

Black And White

Synonym: Clear-Cut
Meaning: Simple or clear-cut, without ambiguity.
Origin: The term, dating back to the 17th century, contrasts with more complex or nuanced situations, referring to clear distinctions.
Example Sentence: The policy was black and white, leaving no room for interpretation.

Blue Ribbon

Synonym: Top Prize
Meaning: The highest award or honor given in a competition.
Origin: The blue ribbon is traditionally awarded for first place in competitions, with the term emerging in the 19th century.
Example Sentence: The pie contest winner received a blue ribbon for her exceptional dessert.

Gray Matter

Synonym: Brain
Meaning: Intelligence or intellectual capacity.
Origin: The term, dating back to the 19th century, refers to the gray-colored brain tissue associated with mental processes.
Example Sentence: His gray matter was put to the test with the challenging problem-solving exercise.

Golden Opportunity

Synonym: Excellent Chance
Meaning: A rare and valuable chance or opportunity.
Origin: The term uses “golden” to signify something precious and valuable, with usage dating back to the 19th century.
Example Sentence: She saw the new job offer as a golden opportunity to advance her career.

Red Eye

Synonym: Late-Night Flight
Meaning: A flight or travel that takes place during the night, typically resulting in lack of sleep.
Origin: The term, from the 20th century, refers to the bloodshot eyes people often have from lack of sleep on overnight flights.
Example Sentence: She booked a red-eye flight to get to her morning meeting on time.

Silver Lining

Synonym: Positive Aspect
Meaning: A hopeful or positive aspect in a negative situation.
Origin: The term “silver lining,” dating back to the 17th century, refers to the edge of a cloud that shines with silver when the sun breaks through, symbolizing hope or a positive aspect amidst a gloomy situation.
Example Sentence: Despite the project’s setbacks, the team found a silver lining in the valuable lessons learned.

Out Of The Clear Blue Sky

Synonym: Unexpected
Meaning: Happening suddenly and without warning.
Origin: The term “clear blue” refers to a clear, cloudless sky, symbolizing something that appears suddenly from an otherwise calm situation. This idiom originated in the 20th century.
Example Sentence: The job offer came out of the clear blue sky, and she hadn’t been expecting it at all.

True Blue

Synonym: Loyal
Meaning: Completely loyal or steadfast.
Origin: The term “true blue” refers to the blue dye that was known for its durability and steadfastness, thus symbolizing unwavering loyalty. This idiom originated in the 16th century.
Example Sentence: He proved himself to be true blue when he stood by his friend through all of life’s challenges.

Pot Calling The Kettle Black

Synonym: Hypocritical
Meaning: Criticizing someone else for a fault one also possesses.
Origin: The idiom comes from the idea that a pot and a kettle, both used for cooking, would be similarly dirty, making it hypocritical for one to criticize the other. This idiom originated in the 17th century.
Example Sentence: When she criticized him for being late, it was a case of the pot calling the kettle black because she’s often tardy herself.

Tickled Pink

Synonym: Delighted
Meaning: Very pleased or happy.
Origin: The term “tickled pink” suggests a strong sense of pleasure or happiness, where “pink” symbolizes the feeling of being flushed with joy. This idiom originated in the 19th century.
Example Sentence: She was tickled pink when she received the surprise birthday party her friends had organized.

Heart Of Gold

Synonym: Kind
Meaning: Having a very kind and generous nature.
Origin: The term “heart of gold” refers to the value and purity of gold, symbolizing someone with a truly valuable and kind-hearted nature. This idiom originated in the 19th century.
Example Sentence: Despite his tough exterior, he has a heart of gold and is always helping those in need.

All That Glitters Is Gold

Synonym: Valuable
Meaning: Not everything that looks valuable or attractive is truly valuable.
Origin: The idiom is derived from the phrase “All that glitters is not gold,” warning that appearances can be deceptive. It originated in the 16th century.
Example Sentence: She learned that all that glitters is gold when the seemingly perfect job turned out to be a disappointment.