English Idioms and Expressions
Idioms: Colours-4
from: 'silver bullet' to: 'yellow-bellied'
- silver bullet
- This term refers to an extremely effective or magical solution to a difficult problem.
"There is no silver bullet that will put an end to unemployment."
- This term refers to an extremely effective or magical solution to a difficult problem.
- silver lining
- A silver lining refers to the good or pleasant side-effects of an unpleasant situation.
"Every cloud has a silver lining' means that there is a positive or hopeful side to every unpleasant situation."
- A silver lining refers to the good or pleasant side-effects of an unpleasant situation.
- (born with) silver spoon in your mouth
- To say that someone is born with a silver spoon in their
mouth means that their family is very rich and privileged.
"Alice never has to worry about money; she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth."
- To say that someone is born with a silver spoon in their
mouth means that their family is very rich and privileged.
- silver surfer
- A silver surferis an elderly person who uses the internet.
"After just a few questions my grandmother was ready to join the silver surfers."
- A silver surferis an elderly person who uses the internet.
- silver-tongued
- A silver-tongued person is a smooth talker who
speaks so convincingly that they manage to persuade others to do what they want.
"A silver-tongued salesman persuaded my mother to buy a new washing machine although the one she had was fine!"
- A silver-tongued person is a smooth talker who
speaks so convincingly that they manage to persuade others to do what they want.
- shrinking violet
- A person referred to as a shrinking violet is a timid or shy person.
"The witness was a shrinking violet who had difficulty expressing herself."
- A person referred to as a shrinking violet is a timid or shy person.
- white Christmas
- A white Christmas is when it snows at Christmas and the ground is white.
"We haven't had a white Christmas in twenty years."
- A white Christmas is when it snows at Christmas and the ground is white.
- white elephant
- If you call something a white elephant, you
consider it useless although it may have cost a lot of money.
"The new cultural centre is a real white elephant. It's so isolated that nobody goes there!"
- If you call something a white elephant, you
consider it useless although it may have cost a lot of money.
- white as a ghost/ a sheet
- A person who is as white as a ghost (or a sheet) looks very pale and frightened.
"She went as white as a ghost when she saw the gun."
- A person who is as white as a ghost (or a sheet) looks very pale and frightened.
- white lie
- If you tell a white lie, you say something which is
not true in order to protect someone or to avoid hurting their feelings.
"Some parents prefer to tell their children a white lie rather than announce bad news."
- If you tell a white lie, you say something which is
not true in order to protect someone or to avoid hurting their feelings.
- yellow-bellied
- A person who is yellow-bellied is cowardly, or not at all brave.
"The bus was full of yellow-bellied passengers who disappeared when the driver was attacked by two youths."
- A person who is yellow-bellied is cowardly, or not at all brave.
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