Click bait alert! Ah you caught me red-handed! I told a white
lie...when I said you MUST know these colour idioms. The truth is these idioms will definitely
help you in conversational English. Now I know this video is a bit out of the blue but
you now have a golden opportunity to learn all about colour idioms with me. By the end
of this lesson, you’ll know 20 colour idioms, and when I test you, you’ll pass with flying
colours.
Anna here from englishlikeanative.com - Today’s lesson is sponsored by Lingoda.
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Right - Let’s get cracking.
To catch someone red-handed. To discover someone in the act of doing something wrong.
For example, if the police found a robber still holding the bag that he has stolen,
you could say ‘they caught him red-handed’, or if a mother walked into the kitchen at
night to find her son with chocolate cake all over his face, she might say “Aha! I’ve
caught you red-handed.” Grey area. A grey area is an ill-defined
(unclear) situation which does not have an obvious answer or outcome. It’s not black
or white (that’s another idiom meaning it’s not clear), it’s a grey area. For example,
if I used a clip from a movie in this video to illustrate an educational point, is that
copyright infringement? It’s not clear, it’s a bit of a grey area.
To give the green light. To give permission for someone to do something or for something
to happen. For example, a parent could ‘give the green light’ for their child to start
a new club or go on a school trip. In the red. If a person or company is ‘in
the red’, that means they have spent more money than they have and now owe money to
the bank. Once in a blue moon. If something happens
‘once in a blue moon’, it happens very rarely. For example, “we go on holiday once
in a blue moon”. Not never, but not often. Out of the blue. If something happens ‘out
of the blue’, it is completely unexpected. For example, “My brother arrived out of
the blue”. He was completely unexpected. Red tape. ‘Red tape’ refers to rules
or boundaries that prevent or slow down something you are trying to achieve. For example, “It
took ages to get a working visa because of all the red tape”.
Rose-tinted glasses. To see or look at something ‘through rose-tinted glasses’ means to
think of it was a positive bias, perhaps only seeing or paying attention to the good things.
For example, “I have lots of fond memories of school and can’t remember the bad parts.
I suppose I look back at it through rose-tinted glasses.”
To show one’s true colours. To show your true colours means to reveal the kind of person
you really are. This could be used in a positive way, for example: “Nicola was so patient
with the children. She really showed her true colours.”; or in a negative way, for example:
“I can’t believe Nicola betrayed you. She really showed her true colours.”
Golden opportunity This is an excellent chance to do something that is likely to be
successful or rewarding. For example, going to Oxford University is a golden opportunity,
or being invited to go to a place you’ve always wanted to go to is a golden opportunity.
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White lie. A ‘white lie’ is a lie about a small or unimportant matter that someone
tells to avoid hurting another person. For example, “It was a bit of a white lie. I
told her I couldn’t go to her party but really I just didn’t want to”.
To pass with flying colours. To pass something with flying colours means to do it very successfully.
For example, if you get top marks on an exam, you could say you’ve passed with flying
colours. See red. To ‘see red’ means to become
very angry. For example: When I realised he’d been lying, I saw red.
Blue-collar. This phrase refers to the collar on a labourer’s uniform and is typically
used to refer to people to work in manual labour such as agriculture, manufacturing
and construction. In context, you could say “He’s got a new blue-collar job as an
electrician”. White-collar. This phrase refers to an
office worker or someone whose profession does not require manual labour. In context,
you could say “He’s got a new white-collar job as a lawyer”.
A red flag. A sign of a problem which requires attention. For example, “the fact that no
one seemed to enjoy working there was a red flag”. This means that it’s a sign that
should be paid attention to. You probably won’t enjoy working somewhere if everyone
who works there already does not enjoy their job.
Red-letter day. A special or memorable occasion. For example, “When Francesca returns from
her 2-year trip, it’ll be a red-letter day”.
To paint the town red. To party or celebrate in a rowdy or wild manner, particularly in
a public place such as a nightclub or bar. You could say: “For your birthday, we’ll
paint the town red” which just means you’ll party.
To roll out the red carpet. To welcome someone with special treatment. For example,
“when she gets home from hospital, we’ll roll out the red carpet”, meaning we’ll
take extra good care of her. This refers to the ‘red carpet’ that celebrities and
VIPs walk on to get to award ceremonies or premieres. It indicates a mark of respect
and good care. Red-carpet treatment. Along similar lines
to the last one but this is not about only welcoming someone when they first arrive somewhere.
To give someone the ‘red-carpet treatment’ is to treat them as if they are special and
important. For example, “at this hotel, we give all of our guests the red-carpet treatment”.
So there we have 20 colour idioms we use conversationally in the English language. Here’s a challenge
to test your new knowledge. How many of these idioms can you fit into one paragraph? Give
it a try and post your paragraph in the comments.
If you'd like to learn 10 more colour idioms you can use to describe people? See the link in the description below.
Until next time, take care and goodbye!