English Idioms and Expressions
Idioms: Colours-1
from: 'black gold' to: 'blue murder'
- black gold
- The term black gold refers to the black colour and high value of oil.
"Much of his money is invested in black gold."
- The term black gold refers to the black colour and high value of oil.
- black market
- The black market refers to the illegal buying and selling of goods or currencies.
"Be careful of what you buy on the black market - it's not always good quality."
- The black market refers to the illegal buying and selling of goods or currencies.
- black mood
- To be in a black mood means to be irritable, angry or even depressed.
"You'd better keep away from Bill today. He's in a black mood."
- To be in a black mood means to be irritable, angry or even depressed.
- black out
- If you black out, you lose consciousness.
"When Tony saw the needle, he blacked out."
- If you black out, you lose consciousness.
- black sheep (of the family)
- The black sheep (of the family) is one who behaves very differently or badly, and is considered disreputable by the other members of the family.
"Joe was the black sheep of the family, always getting into trouble"
- The black sheep (of the family) is one who behaves very differently or badly, and is considered disreputable by the other members of the family.
- black tie event
- The expression 'black tie event' refers to a formal event at which men are required to wear a dinner jacket, or tuxedo, and a black bow tie.
"I need to know if it's going to be a casual get-together or a black tie event."
- The expression 'black tie event' refers to a formal event at which men are required to wear a dinner jacket, or tuxedo, and a black bow tie.
- in the black
- To say that a person or organisation is in the black means that they are financially sound, have a positive balance on their account
and that they owe no money.
"Don't worry. Our club is in the black."
- To say that a person or organisation is in the black means that they are financially sound, have a positive balance on their account
and that they owe no money.
- beaten black and blue
- If a person is covered with bruise marks caused
by being hit, they have been beaten black and blue.
"The passenger was beaten black and blue by a gang of thugs."
- If a person is covered with bruise marks caused
by being hit, they have been beaten black and blue.
- (in) black and white
- To say that something is in black and white means that there is written proof of it.
"It's an obligation.It's in black and white in your contract."
- To say that something is in black and white means that there is written proof of it.
- blue around the gills
- If a person looks blue around gills, (or green, or pale) they look unwell or sick.
"You should sit down.You look a bit blue around the gills."
- If a person looks blue around gills, (or green, or pale) they look unwell or sick.
- blue chip company
- This term refers to a company with a solid reputation for the quality of its products and the stability of its growth and earnings.
"It's usually safe to invest in a blue chip company."
- This term refers to a company with a solid reputation for the quality of its products and the stability of its growth and earnings.
- blue in the face
- If you do something until you are blue in the face, you try unsuccessfully to do something for a very long time.
"I explained the situation until I was blue in the face but she wouldn't change her mind."
- If you do something until you are blue in the face, you try unsuccessfully to do something for a very long time.
- feel blue
- To feel blue means to have feelings of deep sadness or depression.
"I'm going to see my grandmother. She's feeling a bit blue at the moment."
- To feel blue means to have feelings of deep sadness or depression.
- blue-eyed boy
- A blue-eyed boy is someone's favourite and therefore receives better treatment, especially from someone in authority.
"Alex is the director's blue-eyed boy!"
- A blue-eyed boy is someone's favourite and therefore receives better treatment, especially from someone in authority.
- once in a blue moon
- If something occurs once in a blue moon, it happens very rarely.
"Bill has very little contact with his brother. They see each other once in a blue moon."
- If something occurs once in a blue moon, it happens very rarely.
- out of the blue
- If something happens out of the blue, it happens very unexpectedly.
"I had nearly given up hope when out of the blue I was offered a job."
- If something happens out of the blue, it happens very unexpectedly.
- (scream) blue murder
- Someone who screams blue murder shouts or complains very loudly as if something very serious has happened.
"The crowd started screaming blue murder when the football match was interrupted."
- Someone who screams blue murder shouts or complains very loudly as if something very serious has happened.
More Idioms:
Colours
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