English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
COLOURS, page 3
Idioms relating to colours
from: 'pink elephants'
to: 'see red'
- pink elephants
- The term 'pink elephants' refers to hallucinations or strange
imaginary things seen by people as a result
of heavy drinking or the use of narcotics.
"No more drinks for me please, otherwise I'll be seeing pink elephants!"
- The term 'pink elephants' refers to hallucinations or strange
imaginary things seen by people as a result
of heavy drinking or the use of narcotics.
- in the pink of health
- If you are in the pink of health, you are in
excellent physical condition.
"Caroline looks in the pink of health after her holiday."
- If you are in the pink of health, you are in
excellent physical condition.
- tickled pink
- If you are tickled pink, you are very pleased
about something.
"My dad was tickled pink when he was asked to announce the winner."
- If you are tickled pink, you are very pleased
about something.
- red carpet
- To roll out the red carpet, or
give someone the red-carpet treatment, means to give special
treatment to a visitor of importance.
"The management is going to roll out the red carpet for the visit of the Nobel prize winner."
- To roll out the red carpet, or
give someone the red-carpet treatment, means to give special
treatment to a visitor of importance.
- red flag to a bull
- To say that a statement or action is like a red flag to a bull
means that it is sure to make someone very angry or upset.
"Don't mention Tom's promotion to Mike. It would be like a red flag to a bull!"
- To say that a statement or action is like a red flag to a bull
means that it is sure to make someone very angry or upset.
- (caught) red-handed
- If a person is caught red-handed, they are caught
while they are doing something wrong or illegal.
"The boy was caught red-handed stealing chocolate in the supermarket."
- If a person is caught red-handed, they are caught
while they are doing something wrong or illegal.
- red herring
- A red herring is a fact or argument introduced into a
discussion which draws attention away from the main point.
"Look, bureaucracy is a red herring. How to deal with the crisis is the important issue today."
- A red herring is a fact or argument introduced into a
discussion which draws attention away from the main point.
- red light district
- An area of a town or city where there is a concentration of
sex shops, prostitution, strip clubs, etc. is known as the red light district.
"A photograph of the politician taken in a red-light district caused a scandal."
- An area of a town or city where there is a concentration of
sex shops, prostitution, strip clubs, etc. is known as the red light district.
- red tape
- The term red tape refers to official rules and
bureaucratic paperwork that prevent things from being done quickly
"If there wasn't so much red tape, the company would be up and running already."
- The term red tape refers to official rules and
bureaucratic paperwork that prevent things from being done quickly
- in the red
- If a person or organisation is in the red, they
owe money or have a negative account.
"I'm afraid I can't lend you any money. I'm in the red myself."
- If a person or organisation is in the red, they
owe money or have a negative account.
- paint the town red
- If you paint the town red, you go out and enjoy a
lively evening in bars, night-clubs, etc.
"To celebrate the victory, the team's supporters painted the town red."
- If you paint the town red, you go out and enjoy a
lively evening in bars, night-clubs, etc.
- see red
- If someone sees red, they suddenly become very angry or
annoyed.
"Discrimination of any kind makes me see red."
- If someone sees red, they suddenly become very angry or
annoyed.
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Colours
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