English Idioms and Expressions
Idioms: Colours-3
from: 'pink elephants' to: 'see red'
- pink elephants
- The term 'pink elephants' refers to hallucinations or strange imaginary things seen by people as a result
of heavy drinking or the use of narcotics.
"No more drinks for me please, otherwise I'll be seeing pink elephants!"
- The term 'pink elephants' refers to hallucinations or strange imaginary things seen by people as a result
of heavy drinking or the use of narcotics.
- in the pink of health
- If you are in the pink of health, you are in excellent physical condition.
"Caroline looks in the pink of health after her holiday."
- If you are in the pink of health, you are in excellent physical condition.
- tickled pink
- If you are tickled pink, you are very pleased about something.
"My dad was tickled pink when he was asked to announce the winner."
- If you are tickled pink, you are very pleased about something.
- (as) red as beetroot
- Someone who is as red as beetroot has a very red face, either because of embarrassment or from exertion.
"The girl went as red as beetroot when she was asked to speak in front of the group."
- Someone who is as red as beetroot has a very red face, either because of embarrassment or from exertion.
- red carpet
- To roll out the red carpet, or give someone the red-carpet treatment, means to give special
treatment to a visitor of importance.
"The management is going to roll out the red carpet for the visit of the Nobel prize winner."
- To roll out the red carpet, or give someone the red-carpet treatment, means to give special
treatment to a visitor of importance.
- red flag to a bull
- To say that a statement or action is like a red flag to a bull means that it is sure to make someone very angry or upset.
"Don't mention Tom's promotion to Mike. It would be like a red flag to a bull!"
- To say that a statement or action is like a red flag to a bull means that it is sure to make someone very angry or upset.
- (caught) red-handed
- If a person is caught red-handed, they are caught while they are doing something wrong or illegal.
"The boy was caught red-handed stealing chocolate in the supermarket."
- If a person is caught red-handed, they are caught while they are doing something wrong or illegal.
- red herring
- A red herring is a fact or argument introduced into a discussion which draws attention away from the main point.
"Look, bureaucracy is a red herring. How to deal with the crisis is the important issue today."
- A red herring is a fact or argument introduced into a discussion which draws attention away from the main point.
- red light district
- An area of a town or city where there is a concentration of sex shops, prostitution, strip clubs, etc. is known as the red light district.
"A photograph of the politician taken in a red-light district caused a scandal."
- An area of a town or city where there is a concentration of sex shops, prostitution, strip clubs, etc. is known as the red light district.
- red tape
- The term red tape refers to official rules and bureaucratic paperwork that prevent things from being done quickly
"If there wasn't so much red tape, the company would be up and running already."
- The term red tape refers to official rules and bureaucratic paperwork that prevent things from being done quickly
- in the red
- If a person or organisation is in the red, they owe money or have a negative account.
"I'm afraid I can't lend you any money. I'm in the red myself."
- If a person or organisation is in the red, they owe money or have a negative account.
- paint the town red
- If you paint the town red, you go out and enjoy a lively evening in bars, night-clubs, etc.
"To celebrate the victory, the team's supporters painted the town red."
- If you paint the town red, you go out and enjoy a lively evening in bars, night-clubs, etc.
- see red
- If someone sees red, they suddenly become very angry or annoyed.
"Discrimination of any kind makes me see red."
- If someone sees red, they suddenly become very angry or annoyed.
previous page... next page ...
More Idioms:
Colours
Alphabetical lists: