15 Colour Idioms in English: Meanings & Examples

English is full of colourful expressions. From green with envy to feeling blue, colours are often used in English idioms to express emotions, describe people and situations, talk about money, and add vividness to everyday conversations.

In this article, you'll learn 15 common colour idioms in English, along with their meanings, example sentences and useful notes on how to use them naturally. These English idioms about colours are useful for English learners who want to understand everyday conversations and make their spoken and written English more expressive.

Whether you're studying English, preparing for an exam, teaching English or simply building your vocabulary, learning these colour idioms and their meanings can help you recognise expressions that you may hear in conversations, films, books and other forms of English.

Why Learn Colour Idioms in English?

Idioms are an important part of natural English. Their meanings are not always obvious from the individual words, which is why learning them in context is particularly useful.

Colour idioms are especially interesting because colours are often associated with particular emotions, ideas or situations. For example, green with envy means extremely jealous, while feeling blue means feeling sad.

Learning these expressions can help you:

• expand your English vocabulary;
• understand native and fluent English speakers more easily;
• make everyday conversations more natural and expressive;
• recognise common idioms when reading or listening to English;
• use English more confidently in appropriate contexts.

15 Colour Idioms in English: Meanings, Examples and Usage

Let's explore some of the most useful idioms with colours and see how they are used in real-life sentences.

1. Green with envy

Meaning: Extremely jealous or envious of someone else's possessions, achievements or situation.

Example:

Jack was green with envy when he saw his friend's new bike.

Usage: This expression is usually used when someone's jealousy is particularly strong.

2. Feeling blue

Meaning: Feeling sad, unhappy or low in spirits.

Example:

He's been feeling blue ever since his dog passed away.

Usage: Feeling blue is an informal and common way of describing sadness.

3. See red

Meaning: To become extremely angry.

Example:

When I saw the damage to my car, I just saw red!

Usage: This expression emphasises a sudden or intense feeling of anger.

4. A white lie

Meaning: A small or harmless lie told to avoid hurting someone's feelings or to avoid an awkward situation.

Example:

I told a white lie about liking her cooking because I didn't want to be rude.

Usage: A white lie is generally considered less serious than an ordinary lie, although whether it is acceptable depends on the situation.

5. The black sheep of the family

Meaning: A person who is regarded as different from the other members of a family or group, often because their behaviour or lifestyle does not fit in with the others.

Example:

He's the black sheep of the family because he has always chosen a completely different path from everyone else.

Usage: Black sheep can suggest that someone is seen as an outsider or as someone who does not fit in with a particular group.

6. Yellow-bellied

Meaning: Cowardly or lacking courage.

Example:

Don't be yellow-bellied—stand up for what you believe in!

Usage: This is an informal expression and can sound insulting or mocking when used to describe someone.

7. A purple patch

Meaning: A period when someone experiences a particularly successful or productive time.

Example:

She's going through a purple patch, having won every match this season.

Usage: Purple patch is especially common in British English and is often used when talking about sport, work or other periods of success.

8. In the red

Meaning: Owing money or having financial problems; spending more money than you have.

Example:

After the holidays, I was deep in the red.

Usage: This expression is commonly associated with personal finances, businesses and accounts.

Explore more expressions: Discover how culture and nationality influence English expressions in our guide to Nationality Idioms and Phrases in English.

9. In the black

Meaning: Financially successful or profitable; having more money coming in than going out.

Example:

The company has been in the black since last quarter.

Usage: This expression is particularly common when discussing businesses, organisations and finances.

10. True blue

Meaning: Extremely loyal, faithful and dependable.

Example:

He's a true blue friend who has stood by me for years.

Usage: True blue is often used to praise someone's loyalty and commitment.

11. Red tape

Meaning: Excessive official rules, paperwork and bureaucracy that make it difficult or slow to get something done.

Example:

Starting a business here is difficult because of all the red tape.

Usage: Red tape is particularly common in discussions about government, business, administration and official procedures.

For more useful expressions related to professional communication, explore our guide to Business English Idioms and Phrases.

12. Black and white

Meaning: Very clear and straightforward, with little or no possibility of misunderstanding or disagreement.

Example:

The rules are black and white, so there is no excuse for breaking them.

Usage: This expression is often used when a situation, rule or decision appears completely clear and does not seem to allow for different interpretations.

13. Show your true colours

Meaning: To reveal your real character, opinions or intentions, especially after previously hiding them.

Example:

She showed her true colours when she refused to help her friend in need.

Usage: This expression can be used when someone's real personality or intentions become clear through their actions.

14. With flying colours

Meaning: With great success; achieving something extremely well.

Example:

She passed her IELTS exam with flying colours.

Usage: This is a very useful expression for talking about passing an exam, completing a task or succeeding in a challenge with excellent results.

15. Pitch-black

Meaning: Completely dark.

Example:

The room was pitch-black after the lights went out.

Usage: Pitch-black is used to emphasise that there is absolutely no light or that a place is extremely dark.

Quick Guide to Colour Idioms in English

Here's a quick summary of the 15 colour idioms and expressions covered in this article:

How to Use Colour Idioms Naturally

Knowing the meaning of an idiom is only the first step. To use colour idioms in English naturally, you also need to understand the situation in which they are appropriate.

• Feeling blue is suitable for casual conversations about sadness.
• Green with envy can describe strong jealousy in an informal context.
• Red tape is useful when discussing unnecessary bureaucracy or complicated official procedures.
• With flying colours is a positive expression for talking about excellent performance or success.
• In the red and in the black are particularly useful when discussing money and finances.
• Show your true colours is useful when someone's real personality or intentions become clear.

Also remember that some colour expressions are more informal than others. In formal writing, choose an idiom only when it fits the tone and purpose of your text.

Are Colour Idioms the Same in British and American English?

Many colour idioms are understood in both British and American English. However, their frequency and preferred usage can sometimes differ.

For example, a purple patch is particularly common in British English, especially when describing a period of success in sport or another activity. Similarly, with flying colours is widely understood in British English and is commonly used when talking about excellent performance.

When learning idioms, it is therefore useful to pay attention not only to their meaning but also to their register, context and regional usage.

Frequently Asked Questions About Colour Idioms

What are colour idioms in English?

Colour idioms in English are expressions that contain the name of a colour and have a figurative meaning. For example, green with envy means extremely jealous, while feeling blue means feeling sad.

What is an idiom for being jealous?

Green with envy is a common English idiom meaning extremely jealous or envious of someone.

What does feeling blue mean?

Feeling blue means feeling sad, unhappy or low in spirits. It is an informal expression commonly used in everyday English.

What does see red mean?

See red means to become extremely angry. It is often used to describe a strong or sudden reaction to something upsetting.

What does red tape mean?

Red tape means excessive bureaucracy, official rules and paperwork that make a process unnecessarily complicated or slow.

What does show your true colours mean?

Show your true colours means to reveal your real character, opinions or intentions, particularly when they were previously hidden.

What does with flying colours mean?

With flying colours means with great success or very good results. For example, someone who passes an examination with excellent results can be said to have passed it with flying colours.

Expand Your English Vocabulary

Colour idioms are just one part of the rich world of English expressions. Learning idioms in groups can make them easier to remember and help you recognise patterns in everyday English.

If you enjoyed these English idioms about colours, explore more useful expressions for everyday communication in our guide to Common English Idioms for Daily Conversation.

Final Thoughts

Colour idioms add personality, emotion and vivid imagery to English. Instead of simply saying that someone is jealous, sad or angry, you can use expressions such as green with envy, feeling blue and see red to express these ideas in a more colourful way.

Other expressions, such as red tape, in the red, in the black and with flying colours, are useful in discussions about work, money, education and everyday situations.

The best way to remember these colour idioms in English is to learn them in context and use them when the situation is appropriate. Start with a few expressions, practise them in your own sentences, and gradually add more to your active vocabulary.

Which colour idiom is your favourite? Can you think of another English expression that contains a colour? Try using one of these idioms in a sentence of your own.