Colour Idioms with Meaning, Origin and Uses

Here you are going to see some idioms based on different colours, such as black sheep, red-carpet treatment, green horn, bolt from the blue, yellow journalism etc. with their origin and background stories.

1. Black Idioms 

i. Black comedy / Dark comedy:

Meaning – 

Humour based on dark or morbid subjects.

Origin –

From black/dark, representing tragic, disturbing subject. The comedy on a dark or disturbing subject is called a black comedy.

Use –

• Lana does black comedy to highlight the absurdity of sufferings.
• Black comedy is now in popular among the youngsters. 

ii. Black out:

Meaning – 

To lose consciousness or memory.

Origin –

Comes from the state of lack of light, everything seems dark. When one is unconscious, or has lost their memory, everything is dark before them. 

Black out may also refer to the intentional darkening of cities during wartime to avoid enemy detection.

Use –

• Emma suddenly blacked out during the fell on the ground.
• The city was blacked out during the air raid.

iii. Black sheep:

Meaning – 

A person regarded as a disgrace to a family or group.

Origin –

From the black wool of a sheep that was once considered less valuable because black wool could not be dyed. The black sheep stood out of the flock as undesirable.  

Over time the same expression is applied to anyone who is a shame, or undesirable, or does not fit to their family or other group.

Use –

• John is the black sheep of their family as he chose a completely different path.
• Every group has that one black sheep who always break the rules.

iv. Blacklist:

Meaning – 

A list of people or organisations to be excluded, ostracised or avoided.

Origin –

The colour black is associated with negativity, disgrace or dishonour. A list is a record or register. 

Combining the two, “blacklist” is a register or a list of names of the people to be excluded, ostracised or avoided.

During 1639, an English playwright Philip Massinger used the term to refer to people to marked for vengeance or disapproval.

Use –

• Several players were blacklisted from taking part in the tournament after the fixing.
• The club blacklisted Peter for his misbehaviour with other members.

v. Blackmail:

Meaning –

The act of demanding favours from someone by threatening to reveal embarrassing, harmful, or secret information about them.

Origin –

The word mail comes from old Norse word “mal”, meaning rent or payment. 

Farmers living in the Anglo-Scottish border had to pay rent to the raiders and bandits to avoid attacks.

The word black is used because of the illegitimate nature of the payment. 

Over time, the term evolved to refer to any mean extortion through treats.

Use –

• The manager was arrested for trying to blackmail his employees.
• The gang used the stolen documents to blackmail several officials.

vi. Black market:

Meaning –

The illegal trading of goods or services, generally to avoid taxes or government restrictions.

Origin –

During the World War II, when governments were trying to control the prices of essential commodities like food, clothing, fuel, people started selling them at a higher price secretly.

As the word black stands for illegality, unfair, secrecy, the phrase black market refers to a market where illegal trading takes place secretly.

Use –

• Many people buy products from black markets at a cheap price.
• During the pandemic, people bought sugar and butter from the black market.

vii. In the black:

Meaning – 

Financially solvent or profitable.

Origin –

The phrase comes from traditional accounting practices. The accountants used to record profits of a company in black ink and losses in red ink. 

Therefore, if a company’s balance sheet was “in the black”, it meant it was making profits.

Use –

• Since the new CEO joined the company, it has been in the black.
• Many businesses hope to be in the black during the Black Friday sales.

2. Blue Idioms

i. Between the devil and the deep blue sea: 

Meaning –

Caught between two difficult choices.

Similar to “Between Scylla and Charybdis”.

Origin –

The devil referred to a seam or edge of a ship’s hull. It was difficult to reach for caulking, and it was close to the sea water. Many people died being trapped between this hull and the sea.

Use –

• The minister was found between the devil and the deep blue sea; either resign or face public humiliation.
• The Government is caught between the devil and the deep blue sea; either raise taxes or cut public expenditure.

ii. Blue blood: 

Meaning –

Of noble birth or aristocratic lineage.

Origin –

Comes from Spanish phrase “sangre azul”, meaning blue blood to refer to the noble fair-skinned aristocrat. The visible veins under their fair skin seemed blue. 

Use –

• I do not come from a family of blue blood; I must work hard.
• In 20th Century, our school used to be reserved for the children of blue blood.

iii. Blue-collar job:

Meaning –

A type of job that involves manual labour or skilled trade work, often in industries like construction, manufacturing, or maintenance.

Origin –

From 20th century USA, the manual labourers used to wear blue shirts to hide the dirt and grease on them. This blue shirt distinguished them from the other office worked who wore white shirts.

Over time the blue shirt, represented by blue collar, became the symbol of the working class. 

Use –

• They are happy with their blue-collar job.
• Many blue-collar jobs now require advanced technical skills.

iv. Blue-eyed boy:

Meaning –

Someone specially favoured.

Origin –

The blue eye symbolises purity, innocence, and charm. These qualities are often idealised in western culture. 

Use –

• All the new young employees became blue-eyed boys of the office.
• Rohan is the blue-eyed boy of all the teachers.

v. Bolt from the blue:

Meaning –

A sudden and unexpected event, often shocking or surprising.

Origin –

“Bolt” refers to thunder bolt and “blue” refers to a clear blue sky. So, a thunder bolt from a clear blue sky is something that is surprising, shocking, and is never expected.

Use –

• His sudden anger was a bolt from the blue.
• The news of his resignation hit me like a bolt from the blue.

vi. Feel blue:

Meaning –

Feel sad or depressed.

Origin –

The idiom has a nautical origin. It dates to the early 19th century. When a ship lost its captain or any other officer during a voyage, the sailors would fly blue flags and paint a blue band along the hull to mark their mourning. 

Over time the colour blue became a symbol sadness and melancholy. Therefore, to feel blue means to feel sad.

Use –

• Rainy days always make me feel blue.
• My friend is feeling blue as his pet dog passed away.

vii. Once in a blue moon:

Meaning –

Very rarely.

Origin –

In Astronomy, “blue moon” refers to the rare occurrence of the second full moon in a single calendar month.

Use –

My friends come to college once in a blue moon.

I watch a movie once in a blue moon.

viii. Out of the blue:

Meaning –

Unexpectedly or suddenly. 

Origin –

Same as “Bolt from the blue”. The colour blue, in this phrase, symbolises a clear blue sky. The phrase “out of the blue” refers to a thunder bolt striking out of the clear blue sky.

Use –

• He started abusing me out of the blue.
• After a long three years of silence, he called me out of the blue.

ix. Scream blue murder:

Meaning –

Shouting in anger, protest, or fear.

Origin –

The literal meaning of the expression is to shout “murder” to seek help. Later, it got its figurative meaning, i.e. shouting in anger, fear, protest.

The colour blue is a British addition to intensify the expression.

Use –

• She screamed blue murder as she came to know that her scooter was stolen.
• When the baby couldn’t find anyone, he screamed blue murder.

3. Brown Idioms

i. Brown-nose:

Meaning –

To flatter someone for personal advantage.

Origin –

Originated in 1930s from the vulgar imagery of someone trying to please a superior, a boss or a teacher, so hard that he/she starts kissing up their back side. And the dirt from the anus makes the nose look brown. 

Use –

• Rob is just brown-nosing boss to get a promotion.
• Do not brown-nose to get good marks in the internal exam.

4. Green Idioms

i. Give someone the green light:

Meaning –

Grant approval to proceed.

Origin –

Originate from the green signals in traffic. The green light in traffic means “go”. 

Use –

• After the court gave the green light, the company started the working on the plant. 
• The general sectary gave us the green light to start the campaign.

ii. Green around the gills: 

Meaning –

Looking ill or nauseous.

Origin –

Gills refers to the area around the cheeks and jaw, and the colour green has been associated with sickness or queasiness. Thus, someone who looks green around the gills appears unwell or about to vomit.

Use –

• After eating seafood, he looked green around the gills.
• My sister looked green around the gills when she smelt the spoiled egg.

iii. Green thumb / green fingers:

Meaning –

To have a natural talent for gardening or making plants grow well.

Origin –

A person who works with plants and soil in the garden, ends up with a slightly green stain on their thumb or fingers. Over time this green stain became the symbol of skill in gardening.

Use –

• My mother has green fingers, everything she plants flourishes.
• I wish I had a green thumb; all my houseplants are dying.

iv. Green with envy:

Meaning –

Extremely jealous.

Origin –

The Greek philosopher Aristotle linked greenish skin tones to fear or envy. He believed that strong emotions could change one’s complexion.

Later Shakespeare popularised the term. In his Othello, Shakespeare called jealousy the “Green-eyed monster”.

Use –

• When he heard of his friend’s new job, he became green with envy.
• After her sudden promotion, his colleagues were green with envy.

v. Greenhorn:

Meaning –

A person lacking experience or training.

Origin –

The colour green is associated with unripe, immature, young. The newborn cattle or deer have soft or immature horns that have not been hardened yet. 

In 15th century, people used the term greenhorn to describe the newborn immature soft-horned animals.

From then on, the term describes anyone lacking experience or training. 

Use –

• When I joined the office, I was a complete greenhorn.
• Don’t expect everything from him; he is still a greenhorn.

vi. Turn green:

Meaning –

Looking ill or nauseous. Same as “green around the gills”.

Origin –

The colour green has been associated with sickness or queasiness. Thus, someone who turns green appears unwell.

Use –

My brother turned green after a roller-coaster ride.

I turned green after I smelt the spoilt eggs.

5. Grey Idioms

i. Grey area:

Meaning –

A situation that is unclear, undefined, or not easily classified as right or wrong.

Origin –

The phrase comes from the visual metaphor of colours black and white symbolising two opposite things or ideas that we can easily and clearly distinguish. 

Grey area lies between white and black where we cannot distinguish which is black and which is white.

Use –

• The concept of data privacy is still a grey area in our country.
• The ethics of artificial intelligence remain a grey area for policymakers.

ii. Grey market: 

Meaning –

Trade conducted through unofficial but legal channels.

Origin –

The term grey market emerged as an extension of black market. Where black market refers to illegal trading, grey market means trading not fully legal but not criminal either, rather something in-between.

Use –

Many people buy things from the grey market to save money.

Don’t buy electronic products from the grey market; companies don’t give warranties on them.

iii. Grey matter: 

Meaning –

Human brain tissue; intelligence or reasoning ability.

Origin –

Comes from the physical appearance of the human brain that is composed of the largely grey-coloured neural tissue known as the grey matter.

Use –

Use your grey matter to solve the problem.

The advocate used her grey matter for the case.

6. Pink Idioms

i. In the pink:

Meaning –

In excellent health or condition.

Origin –

In 16th century, the word pink referred not only to a colour, but to the pinnacle or the finest example of something.

Later in 18th and 19th century the word pink became associated with vitality and a healthy complexion in British English.

Use –

• Regular exercise will keep you in the pink.
• I am happy to my sister back in the pink after a month of rest.

ii. Pink slip:

Meaning –

Notice of dismissal from employment.

Origin –

In early 20th century, employers affix a pink sheet of paper to an employee’s pay slip to indicate his or her termination. The colour pink was chosen as it stood out from others and easily noticeable.

Over time, pink slip became a figurative expression of firing or laying off of employees.

Use –

• The company, after it lost the lawsuit, issued pink slip to many of its employees.
• My friend was shocked to find the pink slip even after working hard for the company.

iii. Tickled pink:

Meaning –

Very pleased or delighted.

Origin –

Tickled was figuratively used to mean pleased or amused. And the colour pink refers to the colour of the skin turned when they blush or laugh. 

Thus, tickled pink refers to the turning pink when someone is pleased so much.

Use –

• When she heard that she would stand first in the class, she was tickled pink.
• I am tickled pink to receive your invitation.

7. Purple Idioms

i. Born to the purple:

Meaning –

Born into royalty or privilege.

Origin –

In Byzantine Empire, the children who would reign used to be given birth in the Porphyria a special purple chamber in the royal palace. This purple chamber gave them legitimacy and divinity.

Over time, the idiom came to mean anyone born into great wealth or power.

Use –

• I cannot follow my passion right now; I was not born in the purple.
• People assume that those who born in the purple have easy lives.

ii. Purple patch:

Meaning –

A period marked by success or good fortune.

Origin –

In ancient Rome, there was a purple piece of cloth, expensive and rare because the colour purple was obtained from a sea snail and it was very costly to produce.

Only emperors, the wealthy, the nobles could afford garments made of purple fabric. 

In his Ars Poetica, Roman poet and critic Horace used the term purple patches to criticise those literary works, part of which were flashy and decorative, otherwise dull and boring.

Use –

• After years of struggle, the actor finally hit a purple patch of growth and recognition.
• The team is going through purple patches winning five matches in a row.

iii. Purple prose: 

Meaning –

Writing that is excessively ornate or elaborate.

Origin –

It has the same origin as “Purple patches”.

In his Ars Poetica, Roman poet and critic Horace used the term purple patches to criticise those literary works, parts of which were showy and excessively flowery or self-indulgent, often sacrificing clarity for style.

Use –

• The plot of the novel is a cliché; yet sold as the readers loved its purple prose.
• Avoid purple prose in answer-writing, keep your language clear and concise.

8. Red Idioms

i. Red-handed:

Meaning –

Apprehend someone in the act of wrongdoing.

Origin –

The idiom originates from the act of killing. The colour red stands for blood. If a person is caught at the very time of the act of killing, the blood may be visible on their hands. 

Therefore, the phrase “red-handed” refers to “while committing an act of wrongdoing”.

Use –

• The shopkeeper was caught red-handed as he sold alcohol illegally.
• I caught the pickpocket red-handed.

ii. In the red:

Meaning –

In debt or operating at a financial loss.

In contrast to “In the black”.

Origin –

The phrase comes from traditional accounting practices. The accountants used to record profits of a company in black ink and losses in red ink. 

Therefore, if a company’s balance sheet was “in the red”, it meant it was making losses.

Use –

• Since the manager quit the company, it has been in the red.
• Until the government reduce taxes, the automobile sector will be in the red.

iii. A red rag to a bull:

Meaning –

Something that provokes anger.

Origin –

The phrase comes from the game of bullfighting. A matador waves a red rag before the bull to attract or provoke it. 

Interestingly, a bull cannot see the colour red. Bulls are dichromats, meaning they can see two colours: blue and yellowish green. It is the weaving of the rag that makes the bull angry.

Use –

• Calling him a coward is a red rag to a bull.
• Criticising the present government is a red rag to the bull.

iv. Paint the town red: 

Meaning –

Go out and celebrate extravagantly.

Origin –

The idiom dates back to England in 1837. The Marquis of Waterford and his friends went on a drunken rampage in the town of Melton Mowbray. They painted the doors, signs and even the tollgates red.

Since then, “paint the town red” means wild night of fun and celebration.

Use –

• On the day they got their bonus, they painted the town red.
• On the day we won the World Cup, we painted the town red.

v. Red carpet treatment:

Meaning –

Special honour or warm welcome.

Origin –

Originated from the practice of rolling out red fabric to welcome distinguished guests in ancient Greece.

Use –

• The guest of honour received the red-carpet treatment at the award ceremony.
• Whenever she visits the office, she gets a red-carpet treatment.

vi. Red flag:

Meaning –

Warning sign or cause for concern.

Origin –

In the 18th and 19th centuries, red flags were used to signal danger by railways, ships, and armies. Since then, the phrase has been used to refer to any warning of trouble or risk.

Use –

• The plane took off late after a safety red flag was raised during inspection.
• His constant lying was a red flag in their relationship.

vii. Red herring:

Meaning –

Something that distracts attention from the main issue or the real problem.

Origin –

In 18th and 19th century England, a fish called herring was used to train hunting dogs. When smoked, the fish becomes reddish brown and gives off a strong smell. 

To test or confuse the dogs, the trainers or the tricksters dragged a red herring across the trail of a real prey. 

If the dog could still find the real prey, it passed; if not, it was said to be misled by the red herring.

Use –

• The alibi of the accused turned out to be a red herring to the police.
• The argument of hurting sentiment was a red herring to avoid the real issue.

viii. Red-hot:

Meaning –

a.

Extremely intense, exciting, popular, or full of strong emotion.

b.

Extremely hot.

Origin –

Comes from the literal hitting of any metal until it glows red. The expression is used to compare the glowing state of the metal to strong human emotions like anger, passion, intense excitement etc.

Use –

• The debate between the two candidates was red-hot from start to finish.
• The new tech startup is a red-hot topic in the business world.

ix. Red-letter day:

Meaning –

A day of special significance.

Origin –

The expression comes from the medieval practice of printing feast days and important dates in red ink on calendars, while ordinary days were printed in black.

Over time, the expression evolved to mean any important or memorable days in a person’s life.

Use –

• The first day in my office is a red-letter day in my life.
• Our school’s golden jubilee day was a red-letter day for all of us.

x. Red tape: 

Meaning –

Excessive bureaucracy or administrative delay.

Origin –

In 16th and 17th century England, the administrative documents used to be tied with red coloured tapes to mark their importance. The bureaucrats used to take so much time to pass and clear a document.

Over time, the phrase red tape became a symbol of rigid, complicated and unnecessary bureaucratic procedures.

Use –

• No industrialist is interested to set a factory here because of red tape.
• We cannot get a visa soon; it is a lot of red tape.

xi. See red:

Meaning –

Become very angry.

Origin –

The phrase comes from seeing red by the bull in the game of matador’s bull fighting. The matador waves a red cloth before a bull to provoke it.

It is believed that the bull becomes angry seeing the colour red, but it is the movement of the cloth that infuriates the bull.

Use –

• He saw red when he found that the fine was deducted from his salary.
• Whenever someone criticises her, she immediately sees red.

9. Silver Idioms

i. Born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth:

Meaning – 

Born into wealth and privilege.

Origin –

Comes from the European practice of gifting a silver spoon to a newborn. Only the wealthy could afford silver as it was very expensive. 

Over time, the phrase silver spoon became the symbol of wealth and privilege. 

Use –

• Michael has never worked a single day in his life as he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
• Unlike her other classmates, she was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

ii. Every cloud has a silver lining: 

Meaning –

Something good in an otherwise bad situation.

Origin –

Here the phrase silver lining refers to the bright edges of a cloud illuminated by sunlight. The sunlight symbolises hope, though it is obstructed temporarily by the cloud that stands for adversities and distress.

The silver lining is a signal of hope in a state of distress or adversity.

Use –

• Don’t be upset about losing your job; every clod has a silver lining.
• Even though She misses the train, she met old friend in the station; every cloud has a silver lining.

iii. Silver bullet:

Meaning –

A simple, seemingly magical solution to a complex or difficult problem.

Origin –

The phrase originates from European folklore. A silver bullet is believed to kill supernatural creatures like werewolves and witches.

Over time, the phrase came to symbolise a quick, effective remedy for a problem that is otherwise hard to solve.

Use –

• Technology alone is not the silver bullet to reduce corruption.
• There is no silver bullet for the air pollution; it requires collective effort.

iv. Silver screen: 

Meaning –

The film industry or cinema.

Origin –

The term originated in the early 20th century, when cinema screens were coated with a metallic, generally silver paint, to better reflect projected light. It produced a brighter image. 

Over time, the silver screen became a metonym for the movie industry and for films themselves.

Use –

• People come to know about many legendary individuals only when they appear on the silver screen.
• The biography was later adapted for the silver screen.

Silver-tongued:

Meaning –

Having a charming, persuasive, or eloquent way of speaking.

Origin –

In 16th century, the word silver also meant silver, “melodious or pleasantly resonant.” Therefore, a silver-tongued is someone who speaks with charm and eloquence. 

Use –

• She was wary of his silver-tongued promises.
• Only a silver-tongued lawyer can win the case.

10. White Idioms

i. As white as a sheet:

Meaning –

Extremely pale, usually from fear, shock, or illness.

Origin –

Here sheet refers to a white bedsheet. The pale face of an afraid, or ill of a person is compared with the shite-coloured bedsheet.

Use –

• My grandmother turned as white as a sheet when she heard the strange noise.
• After the accident, Jack went as white as a sheet.

ii. Raise a white flag:

Meaning –

Indicate surrender or submission in a war, dispute or any argument.

Origin –

The colour white symbolises peace and truce. 

The idiom originates from the battlefield practice of showing white flags or cloths to announce the intention to ceasefire, negotiate or surrender.

Use –

• After a yearlong of war, one of them finally raised a white flag.
• The militant group raised a white flag seeing no chance of winning.

iii. White-collar job:

Meaning –

Office-based or professional employment.

Origin –

In 20th century, the office workers usually wore white shirt as part of formal office attire. 

It was contrasted with the blue-collar workers who did manual labours and wore durable blue shirts.

Use –

• The white-collar jobs becames symbol of high status in our society.
• Harry left the factory to take a white-collar job.

iv. White elephant:

Meaning –

Something that is costly but of little practical use.

Origin –

In ancient Thailand, the white coloured Albino elephants were considered sacred. There were given by the kings as gifts. 

However, the animals were very costly to keep and could not be put to work. So, the owners, the white Albino elephants seemed to be burden rather than a blessing. 

Use –

• The new guesthouse proved to be a white elephant; it’s rarely used and costs a fortune to maintain.
• My luxury car is a white elephant once the repair bills start piling up.

v. White lie:

Meaning –

A harmless or small lie, usually told to avoid hurting someone.

Origin –

Since 18th century, lies have often been associated with colours considering their moral weight. For example, black lies are more immoral or malicious, white lies, on the other hand, are innocent and more acceptable and told with a good intention.

Use –

• I told her a white lie to avoid upsetting her.
• You said that the food was delicious, but I know it was a white lie.

vi. White feather:

Meaning –

A symbol of cowardice.

Origin –

The expression comes from 18th century cockfighting. The gamecock that had a white feather in its tail, was believed to be mixed breed and, therefore, lacked the fighting spirit. 

The phrase gained popularity during the World War II, when women used to offer a white feather to men not in a uniform to shame them into enlist in the armed forces.

Use –

• In those days, receiving a white feather was a grave insult.
• He has a white father in his wing.

vii. White night:

Meaning –

A sleepless night.

Origin –

White symbolises wakefulness or brightness, contrasting with the usual darkness of the night.

Use –

• I spent several white nights before the exam.
• Emma often has white nights thinking about the future.

viii. Whitewash:

Meaning –

To cover up faults, mistakes, or wrongdoings to make something or someone appear better than they really are.

Origin –

Whitewash is a mixture of lime and water. We use it to coat walls, fence of a house to make them look clean and bright. On the other hand, it hides the dull or patchy walls.

Later in 18th century, whitewash got a figurative meaning as it refers to covering up one’s faults or misdeeds. 

Use –

• The interview was an attempt to whitewash his image.
• The report was criticised as it tried to whitewash the government’s corruption.

ix. Whiter than white:

Meaning –

Completely honest, pure, or morally spotless; often used ironically to suggest someone is pretending to be perfect.

Origin –

The word white generally symbolises purity, honesty, innocence. 

The repetition of white in the phrase intensifies the absolute version of moral cleanliness.

Use –

• No one is whiter than white when it comes to money and power.
• He claimed to be whiter than white after the investigation.

11. Yellow Idioms

i. Yellow-bellied:

Meaning –

Cowardly or lacking courage.

Origin –

The origin of this idiom is uncertain. It is most probably associated with the fact that the colour yellow has long been a symbolic of cowardice.

Use –

• Speak for your rights; don’t be yellow-bellied.
• Peter is too yellow-bellied to talk to the principal.

ii. Yellow journalism:

Meaning –

Sensational or exaggerated news reporting that prioritises attention-grabbing headlines over factual accuracy.

Origin –

The term originated in the 1890s during the fierce newspaper rivalry between Joseph Pulitzer’s New York World and William Randolph Hearst’s New York Journal. 

There was a comic-strip character called The Yellow Kid first appeared in 1895 in Pulitzer’s New York World to grab readers’ attention.

After that, the critics started calling it yellow journalism.

Use –

• After publishing sensational stories, the newspaper was accused of yellow journalism.
• Some senior journalists criticise yellow journalism to for damaging public trust on main stream media.

12. Mixed colour Idioms

i. Black and blue:

Meaning –

Covered with bruises.

Origin –

From the black and bluish-purple colour of the skin caused by bleeding beneath the surface due to physical injury.

Use –

• The thief was beaten black and blue before police arrived.
• The boxer was black and blue after the match.

ii. Black and white:

Meaning – 

Clear, without confusion or ambiguity.

Origin –

From 15th century legal documents, written with black ink on white papers or parchment. It looked clear.

Use –

• The rules are written in black and white; anyone can easily understand them.
• Don’t see the world in mere black and white, there are grey sheds too.