| 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 |
