Idioms based on colour 1

true blue

genuine

black and blue

bruised (either physically or metaphorically)

a black hole

a place in financial accounts where money appears to have ‘disappeared’

a black sheep

someone who does not fit into a group or family because their behaviour or character is not good

blackball

to vote against allowing someone to become a member of a group or organisation

the boys in blue

the police (their uniform is blue)

browned off

tired or fed up with something

caught red-handed

to be found doing something wrong or illegal

green fingers

someone with a talent for gardening is said to have these

green around the gills

looking ill

given a green light

given approval to do something

green with envy

very jealous

the green-eyed monster

envy

a grey area

the area of a subject or situation with no clear right or wrong

the grey matter

the human brain

in the black

a bank account or business in credit

in the pink

in very good health

in the red

a business or bank account that is overdrawn

off colour

ill, or looking ill

once in a blue moon

happening very rarely

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