Usage: My friend turned as white as a ghost when she realized there was a stranger standing at her bedroom window.

“To tell a white lie”

Meaning: To tell a small lie that doesn’t hurt another person.

Usage: We had to tell our mom a white lie about the money. We couldn’t let her know we’d spent it all on chocolat

“As black as coal”

Meaning: To be very black. Coal is a small piece of carbon used to burn on fires.

Usage: There were many clouds last night and the sky was as black as coal.

“Black and blue”

Meaning: Very beaten up and bruised. Bruised is when you have dark blue/black marks on your body from hitting an object hard or being hit by another person.

Usage: After John lost the wrestling match he was black and blue. The other guy was very strong.

“Black eye”

Meaning: When the area around your eye looks very black because it has been hit.

Usage: When Mel fell down and hit her face on her brother’s toy truck she got a black eye.

“Black market”

Meaning: The area where illegal things such as drugs and guns are bought and sold.

Usage: People who can’t buy a gun legally with a permit usually can buy one on the black market.

“Black sheep of the family”

Meaning: A person who is different (usually in a negative way) to the rest of the other family members.

Usage: Al is the only one in his family who hasn’t gone to college. He’s the only one who doesn’t have a proper job. He’s considered to be the black sheep of the family.

“Black tie event”

Meaning: A formal event or party that men are expected to wear a black suit with a tie. Women are expected to wear long formal dresses.

Usage: The Oscars is one of the world’s most famous black tie events.

Blue Idioms

“Feel blue”

Meaning: To feel sad or depressed about something.

Usage: Can you call Sally and try and make her laugh? She’s feeling blue after Mike left.

“Blue blood”

Meaning: If a person has blue blood they come from a wealthy or royal family.

Usage: It’s no surprise he likes to go to the opera. He’s got blue blood.

“Out of the blue”

Meaning: Something happens unexpectedly (by surprise or without warning).

Usage: Mary just showed up at the house out of the blue yesterday. We thought she was still in Europe.

“Catch someone red-handed”
Meaning: To catch a person doing something they were not supposed to be doing.

Usage: We caught Jake and Julia red-handed. They were hugging and kissing even though they deny it (say it’s not true).

“To paint the town red”

Meaning: To go out and have a good time partying.

Usage: Our exams are finished. Now it’s time to go out, celebrate and paint the town red.

“A red flag”

Meaning: A sign that something that is not right. A warning sign.

Usage: Even though there were red flags in the relationship, Alice ignored them. Now she’s getting a divorce.

Usage: When the iPhone first entered the market it was red hot. Shops sold them all quickly and people had to wait to buy their new phones.

“Red hot”

Meaning: To be in high demand, something that everybody wants.

“Red tape”

Meaning: Too much formal paperwork to do something.

Usage: When people apply for a visa for another country there’s usually a lot of red tape.

“Roll out the red carpet”