| expression |
|
meaning |
black sheep
of a family |
|
family member whose behavior
is considered unacceptable and
disgraceful to other family members |
|
|
|
| black box |
|
an electronic device that records
the performance of airplanes
during flight |
|
|
|
have a black
cloud hanging
over one's head |
|
describes someone who has had
an excessive amount of bad luck |
|
|
|
| a gray area |
|
something which can be interpreted
in many different ways because
it has not been clearly defined
or explained |
|
|
|
| gray matter |
|
(1) the brain;
(2) intelligence
|
|
|
|
green around
the gills |
|
describes someone who looks
pale and as if he / she is about to
become sick |
|
|
|
| greenhorn |
|
a total novice; someone who
is completely without experience |
|
|
|
give someone
the green light |
|
tell someone it is safe or
acceptable to proceed
with an action, plan, etc. |
|
|
|
in the pink
(of health) |
|
completely healthy |
|
|
|
| a pink slip |
|
a notice given to a worker
to tell him / her that he / she
no longer has a job (that is,
that he or she has been fired
or laid off) |
|
|
|
| tickled pink |
|
delighted; very pleased |
|
|
|
see the world
through
rose-colored
glasses |
|
have an excessively optimistic
outlook or personality; refuse
to acknowledge problems |
|
|
|
have a
rosy outlook |
|
have a cheerful, positive,
very optimistic view of life |
|
|
|
give someone
the red light |
|
stop someone from proceeding
with an action, plan, etc. |
|
|
|
| purple prose |
|
language which is excessively
complicated and ornate, and
which seems designed to
impress rather than communicate |
|
|
|
born to
the purple |
|
born into a wealthy and
privileged (or royal) family |
|
|
|
born with a
silver spoon in
one's mouth |
|
born into a wealthy and
privileged family |
|
|
|
"Every cloud
has a silver lining." |
|
proverb meaning that nothing
is as bad as it seems |
|
|
|
(as) white as
a sheet / a ghost |
|
very pale because of shock
or fright
(also as pale as a sheet / a ghost)
|
|
|
|
| yellow |
|
cowardly |
|
|
|
give someone
the yellow light |
|
indicate that someone should
proceed cautiously with
an action, plan, etc. |
|
|
|
have a yellow
streak down
one's back |
|
be a coward |
