Idiomatic english: colour idioms

Translate into Russian and learn:

We have numerous "colour" idioms in the language. Here are some grouped under the various colours:

red

When I hear of cruelty to animals it makes me see red become violently angry).

I caught the thief red-handed (= in the very act).

You are not answering my question. You are trying to draw a red herring across the track (- lead the attention away from the real point).

As soon as he led the conversation round to borrowing money, I saw the red light (= was aware of approaching danger).

On boat-race night the College students paint the town red (= have a gay, high-spirited, noisy time).

The mention of that man's name to him is like a red rag to a bull (= something that causes violent anger).

pink His. behaviour was the pink of perfection (= perfect).

"How arc you?" "Oh, I'm in the pink" (= very well). (Slang) He looks at life through rose-colored spectacles (= optimistically, seeing everything in a pleasant light).

blue

He was blue in the face with cold.

I'm feeling rather blue (in the blues) today (= rather miserable, "down in the mouth").

He got his blue for football. (At Oxford or Cambridge a man who has been chosen to represent his University at football, rowing, cricket, etc., is given his "colours", light blue. lor Cambridge, dark blue for Oxford).

He spend all his time reading blue books (= Government publications).

A thing like that only happens once in a blue moon (= very rarely). You can talk till all is blue ( as long as you like) but I shan’t believe you.

The news was a great shock to me: it came absolutely out of the blue (= was quite Unexpected).

green

I hope you live to a green old age (= age full of youthful strength).

He's very green (= easily deceived), (slang)

She was green with jealousy (= very jealous).

white

Jan's factory¹ is an absolute white elephant (= something valuable but useless, of which the owner would be glad to be free²).

Though I believe in Idling the truth I think a white lie (= a lie told for a good purpose) is sometimes justified.

He boasted a lot about his courage but when danger came he showed the white feather (= was a coward).

Many attempts have been made to whitewash the man's reputation (= to make it appear good and honourable) but the fact remains that he is a rogue.

black

I won't believe it unless I see it in black and white (= in writing).

After the fight one of the boxers had a black eye.

You can never believe what he says; he will swear black is white if it suits his purpose.