Colourful Idioms

Explore seven English idioms about light or rainbows, such as “tickled pink” and “give someone the green light.”

We could discuss English idioms endlessly. If you’re keen on enriching your English vocabulary with not just new words but also fascinating idioms, explore the “English Idioms” section. You’ll discover an extensive collection of idiomatic expressions that will enhance your reading and learning experience. Today, let me introduce you to seven vibrant English idioms. Let’s add a rainbow of colorful idioms to make our conversation more intriguing!

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    See things in black and white

• If the preceding phrase describes an exceedingly optimistic individual, this idiom characterizes someone who is exceedingly simple and direct, often lacking imagination. This person perceives everything in absolute terms, without any middle ground or “grey area” – it’s either black or white, right or wrong, good or bad, etc. For instance:

  – Jim believes he’ll never secure another job; he views things in black and white.
  – In my youth, I was quite rigid and perceived everything in black and white.

     With flying colours

Typically found at the conclusion of a sentence, this idiom signifies the accomplishment of a task with great success and excellence. For instance:

– She aced her interview with flying colors.
– I’m confident Linda will deliver her project with flying colors.

     To be browned off

While “I’m bored” is a common expression, “to be browned off” might be unfamiliar to many. It conveys a sense of being bored or annoyed with something, and it’s primarily used in British English rather than American English. For instance:

– I’m thoroughly browned off with this place. There’s nothing to do here.
– We were worn out and browned off with her nonsensical chatter.

   Tickled pink

The idiom in our lineup signifies being extremely happy or highly satisfied. For instance:

– Bob was overjoyed when he discovered that he and his wife were expecting a child.
– Sally, why are you so delighted?

By the way, in the first sentence, there are no typos: The couple is anticipating a child, even though only the woman is pregnant.

     Give someone the green light

• This idiom signifies granting someone permission to do something. For instance:

  – The board of directors approved the CEO to proceed with laying off half his staff.
  – Our teacher authorized us to select the topic for the next lesson.

     See through rose-coloured glasses

• This English idiom denotes being optimistic, often suggesting that the individual is somewhat naive, focusing solely on the positive aspects and overlooking or being oblivious to the negatives.

  For instance:

  – Scarlett is the type of person who views everything through rose-colored glasses.
  – His father was an optimist, consistently seeing everything through rose-colored glasses.

  White lie

The final “colorful” English idiom refers to an innocent lie, often used to avoid causing offense. There are instances when telling the truth might be uncomfortable, so a small lie is told to be polite.

For instance:

– I shared a white lie with my friend, praising her cake as the best thing I’ve ever eaten.
– Should I be truthful with him or resort to a white lie?

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How frequently do you find yourself resorting to a white lie? When was the most recent occasion you felt thoroughly bored or annoyed? Or perhaps you’re the kind of person who consistently looks at things with an optimistic and overly positive perspective?

What is your English level?

Find out your A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2 level of English with our online test and receive your English certificate.

Test Your English