Learn Color English Idioms Easily

Color idioms are a fun and useful part of the English language. They use colors to express feelings, situations, and ideas in a natural and interesting way.

Native speakers often use color idioms in daily conversations, movies, books, and even at work.

Learning color English idioms easily helps you understand real spoken English and makes your own speech more expressive and confident.

In this lesson, you will explore common color idioms explained in simple English, perfect for students, ESL learners, and anyone who wants to sound more natural in English.

Table of Contents

Red Idioms

Red is a bold, passionate color often associated with anger, danger, or embarrassment in idioms.

“To see red” = To become extremely angry

“Like a red rag to a bull” = Something that provokes extreme anger or irritation

“To catch someone red-handed” = To catch someone in the act of doing something wrong

“To be red in the face” = To be embarrassed or flushed from anger or exertion

“To roll out the red carpet” = To give someone the royal treatment and an extravagant welcome

Blue Idioms

Blue is a calm, cool color, but in idioms it often expresses sadness, depression, or inappropriateness.

“To have the blues” = To feel sad or depressed

“To bluebottle” = To swear or use foul language

“Out of the blue” = Suddenly and unexpectedly

“To talk until you’re blue in the face” = To argue persistently without convincing someone

“Once in a blue moon” = Very rarely

Green Idioms

Green is the color of nature, but it’s also associated with envy, inexperience, and approval in idioms.

“Green with envy” = Extremely jealous

“To have a green thumb” = To be naturally good at gardening

“Greenhorn” = An inexperienced person

“To give the green light” = To approve or permit something to go ahead

“The grass is always greener on the other side” = Others seem to have things better than you

Yellow Idioms

Yellow is a bright, sunny color, but idioms associate it with cowardice and sensational media stories.

“To be yellow-bellied” = To be cowardly

“A yellow streak” = A tendency to be cowardly

“Yellow journalism” = Journalism that presents little or no legitimate facts

“Yellow pages” = The business listings section of a telephone directory

Black Idioms

Black is the color of darkness, but also formality and illegality in idioms.

“Black sheep” = The odd or disreputable member of a group

“Black tie” = A formal dress code for men, requiring a tuxedo

“Black market” = An illegal market for goods

“In the black” = Not owing any debt, or operating at a profit

“Black humor” = A dark and morbid sense of humor

White Idioms

White symbolizes purity and innocence, but also fear, surrender, and negativity in idioms.

“Whiter than white” = Extremely pure, moral and upstanding

“White lie” = A harmless, minor lie told to avoid offense

“White elephant” = An unsuitable gift or possession that’s costly to maintain

“White feather” = A symbol of cowardice

“To show the white flag” = To surrender or admit defeat

Purple Idioms

Purple is the color of royalty, but also overindulgence and exaggeration in idioms.

“To put on/lay on the purple prose” = To write or describe something in an overly ornate or extravagant way

“Born to the purple” = Born into wealth, power or royalty

“Purple patch” = A period of exceptional achievement or success

“Purple haze” = A state of confusion, intoxication or bewilderment

Pink Idioms

Pink is a soft, feminine color, but idioms show it can also relate to health and optimism.

“In the pink” = In perfect condition, healthy

“Pinko” = A person with radical socialist/communist views

“Through rose/pink colored glasses” = To have an overly optimistic view of something

“Pink slip” = A notice of dismissal from employment

Gray/Grey Idioms

Gray is a dull, neutral color that often represents being boring, old or indecisive in idioms.

“Gray area” = A situation lacking clear rules or guidelines

“Gray matter” = The brain or its intellect

“Gray hair” = A person who is older and experienced

“To gray out” = To become dull or indistinct

“A graybeard” = An old person, especially one still occupying a position of authority

Brown Idioms

Brown is an earthy color that relates to hardship, dullness, and counterfeit money in idioms.

“To brown bag it” = To bring your own food to eat, usually at work or school

“Brown nose/brown noser” = Someone who flatters for personal gain

“Browned off” = Feeling discouraged or disheartened

“Brown study” = A state of deep thought or meditation

“Funny money/brown bread” = Counterfeit or worthless money

Orange Idioms

Orange is a bright, energetic color but idioms use it to mean warnings, the outdoors, and Protestantism.

“To orange peel” = To make grooves or ridges on a surface

“To play the orange card” = To promote or support Protestants over others

“To bag an orange” = To succeed or achieve something through outdoor skill

“Orangeism” = Beliefs, principles and practices of Protestants in Ireland

Tan/Beige Idioms

These light brown, neutral colors relate to outdoor work and generalizations in idioms.

“Tan your hide” = To be punished, physically disciplined

“Beige personality” = A very dull, boring or conventional personality

“Tan line” = A line on the skin showing difference in exposure to the sun

Silver/Gold Idioms

These precious metallic colors represent value, prestige and anniversary milestones.

“Every cloud has a silver lining” = There’s a positive side to every negative situation

“Born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth” = Born into a wealthy family

“The golden years” = The time in life after retirement from work

“Golden handcuffs” = Lucrative financial incentives to keep doing a job

Color words in the English language are super cool!

They can describe so many things like wealth, age, nature, and even personality traits.

It’s amazing how expressive they can be!