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white hope.Green around the gills

If someone looks green around the gills, they look ill.Green fingers

(UK) Someone with green fingers has a talent for gardening.Green light

If you are given the green light, you are given approval todo something.

Green thumb(USA) Someone with a talent for gardening has a greenthumb.

Green with envyIf you are green with envy, you are very jealous.

Green-eyed monsterThe green-eyed monster is an allegorical phrase forsomebody's strong jealousy

Greenhorn

A greenhorn or someone who is described simply as greenlacks the relevant experience and knowledge for their job ortask

Grey areaA grey/gray area is one where there is no clear right orwrong.

Grey CardinalSomeone who is a Grey Cardinal exerts power behind thescenes, without drawing attention to himself or herself.

Grey matterGrey/gray matter is the human brain.

Grey pound(UK) In the UK, the grey pound is an idiom for theeconomic power of elderly people.

Hot as blue blazesIf something's as hot as blue blazes, it's extremely hot.

In the blackIf your bank account is in credit, it is in the black.

In the pinkIf you are in very good health, you are in the pink.

In the redIf your bank account is overdrawn, it is in the red.

Jet-black

To emphasise just how black something is, such assomeone's hair, we can call it jet-black.

Like white on rice(USA) If you do something like white on rice, you do it veryclosely: When Bob found out I had front row tickets for theconcert, he stuck to me like white on rice.

Off colourIf someone looks off colour/color, they look ill.

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Once in a blue moonIf something happens once in a blue moon, it happens veryrarely indeed.

Out of the blueIf something happens out of the blue, it happens suddenlyand unexpectedly.

Paint the town redIf you go out for a night out with lots of fun and drinking,you paint the town red.

Pink slipIf someone receives a pink slip, they receive a letter tellingthem they have lost their job.

Pot calling the kettle blackIf someone hypocritically criticises a person for somethingthat they themselves do, then it is a case of the pot callingthe kettle black.

Put more green into something

(USA)To put more green into something is to spend more or toincrease investment in it.

Ragged blue line(USA) This term was used to signify the Union forces (whowore blue uniforms) in the American Civil war .

Red letter dayA red letter day is a one of good luck, when somethingspecial happens to you.

Red light districtThe red light district is the area of a town or city where there

is prostitution, sex shops, etc.Red mist

If someone sees red or the red mist, they lose their temperand self-control completely.

Red rag to a bullIf something is a red rag to a bull, it is something that willinevitably make somebody angry or cross.

Red tapeThis is a negative term for the official paperwork andbureaucracy that we have to deal with.

Reds under the bed

An ironic allusion to the obsession some people have thatthere are reds (communists) everywhere plotting violentrevolution.

Roll out the red carpetIf you roll out the red carpet, you treat someone in a specialway, especially when welcoming them.

Rose-colored glassesIf people see things through rose-colored (coloured) glasses,

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they see them in a more positive light than they really are.Rose-tinted glasses

If people see things through rose-tinted glasses, they seethem in a more positive light than they really are.

Sail under false coloursSomeone who sails under false colours (colors) ishypocritical or pretends to be something they aren't in orderto deceive people.

Scarlet womanThis idiom is used as a pejorative term for a sexuallypromiscuous woman, especially an adulteress.

Scream blue murderIf someone shouts very loudly in anger, or fear, they screamblue murder.

See redIf someone sees red, they become very angry aboutsomething.

Show your true colorsTo show your true colors is to reveal yourself as you reallyare.

Talk a blue streak(USA) If someone talks a blue streak, they speak quicklyand at length. ('Talk up a blue streak' is also used.)

Thin blue line(UK) The thin blue line is a term for the police, suggestingthat they stand between an ordered society and potentialchaos. (Police uniforms are blue.)

Tickled pinkIf you are very pleased about something, you are tickledpink.

Till you're blue in the faceIf you do something till you're blue in the face, you do itrepeatedly without achieving the desired result until you'reincredibly frustrated.

True blueA person who is true blue is loyal and dependable, someonewho can be relied on in all circumstances.

True coloursIf someone shows their true colours, they show themselvesas they really are. ('True colors' is the American spelling.)

Under false coloursIf someone does something under false colours/colors, theypretend to be something they are not in order to deceivepeople so that they can succeed.

Walk the green mileSomeone or something that is walking the green mile isheading towards the inevitable.

White as a sheet

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A bad shock can make somebody go as white as a sheet.White feather

If someone shows a white feather, they are cowards.White lie

If you tell a white lie, you lie in order not to hurt someone'sfeelings.

With flying colours (colors)If you pass something with flying colours (colors), you passeasily, with a very high mark or grade.

Yellow pressThe yellow press is a term for the popular and sensationalistnewspapers.

Yellow streakIf someone has a yellow streak, they are cowardly aboutsomething.

Yellow-belliedA yellow-bellied person is a coward.

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