🎨 Colour Idioms in English

Language is full of colour—literally! English is painted with idioms that use colours to express emotions, describe situations, and add flair to daily conversations. In this post, we'll explore some of the most popular English idioms about colours, their meanings, and examples to help you use them like a native speaker.

Whether you’re learning English or teaching it, these expressions will add a splash of creativity to your vocabulary.

🎯 Why Learn Colour Idioms?

Idioms give you a cultural insight into how native speakers think and feel. Learning idioms that include colours:

• Improves your fluency

• Makes your conversations more engaging

• Helps you sound more natural in both speaking and writing

🟢 1. Green with Envy

Meaning: Extremely jealous or envious
Example:
Jack was green with envy when he saw his friend’s new bike.

🔵 2. Feeling Blue

Meaning: Feeling sad or depressed
Example:
He’s been feeling blue ever since his dog passed away.

🔴 3. See Red

Meaning: To become very angry
Example:
When I saw the damage to my car, I just saw red!

⚪ 4. White Lie

Meaning: A small lie told to avoid hurting someone’s feelings
Example:
I told a white lie about liking her cooking to avoid being rude.

⚫ 5. Black Sheep

Meaning: A person who is considered a disgrace to their family or group
Example:
He’s the black sheep of the family—always getting into trouble.

🟡 6. Yellow-Bellied

Meaning: Cowardly or afraid
Example:
Don’t be yellow-bellied—stand up for what you believe in!

🟣 7. Purple Patch

Meaning: A period of success or good luck
Example:
She’s going through a purple patch, winning every match this season.

🔴 8. In the Red

Meaning: Owing money or being in debt
Example:
After the holidays, I was deep in the red.

🔘 9. In the Black

Meaning: Financially profitable or not in debt
Example:
The company has been in the black since last quarter.

💙 10. True Blue

Meaning: Loyal and faithful
Example:
He’s a true blue friend who’s stood by me for years.

🟥 11. Red Tape

Meaning: Excessive bureaucracy or rules
Example:
Starting a business here is difficult because of all the red tape.

⚫ 12. Black and White

Meaning: Clear and straightforward; no ambiguity
Example:
This contract makes everything black and white.

🌈 13. Show Your True Colours

Meaning: Reveal your real character
Example:
She showed her true colours when she refused to help her friend in need.

🧡 14. With Flying Colours

Meaning: With great success
Example:
She passed her IELTS exam with flying colours.

🖤 15. Pitch Black

Meaning: Completely dark
Example:
The room was pitch black after the lights went out.

✨ Bonus Tip: Use Colour Idioms in the Right Context

Colour idioms are more than just fancy expressions—they add emotional tone and style to your language. But they work best when used in the right context. For instance:

• Use “feeling blue” in a casual or emotional conversation.

• Use “red tape” in a business or formal discussion.

📌 Final Thoughts

Colour idioms not only enhance your English fluency, but also bring life to your words. Like a painter with a palette, you can express sadness, joy, anger, success—and everything in between—just by choosing the right colourful phrase.

So next time you want to say someone is jealous, don’t just say “jealous”—say they’re green with envy!

Colour Idioms