List of Popular Phrases that Include Color

BLUE
Out of the blue: unexpected

True blue: to be loyal or faithful

Once in a blue moon: an event that occurs infrequently [see related article: Once in a
Blue Moon]

Blue ribbon: first place; to describe something as being of the highest quality

Blue blood: an aristocrat [see related article: Blue Blood for Silver Spoons]

Blue law: laws about morality issues

Blue comedy: jokes about socially taboo subjects

Blueprint: a detailed design of an object or idea

Blue plate special: a special priced meal at a restaurant

Bluestocking: a woman with strong scholarly interests

Feeling blue: to feel sad or unhappy

GREEN
Get the green light: get approval to move ahead or proceed with a project or task

Green corn: the young, tender ears of Indian corn

Green thumb (US) or Green fingers (UK): an unusual ability to make plants grow

Green room: a room (in a theater or studio) where performers can relax before or after
appearances

Greenback: a legal-tender note issued by the United States government

Greener pastures: something newer or better (or perceived to be better), such as a new
job

Green with envy: jealous or envious [see related article: Green With Envy]

Greenhorn: novice, trainee, beginner [see related article: He Wasn't All Greenhorn]

Green around the gills: marked by a pale, sickly, or nauseated appearance

Turn green: to look pale and ill as if you are going to vomit

Going green: when someone or something makes changes to help protect the
 environment, or reduces waste or pollution

YELLOW
Yellowbellied: a cowardly manner

Yellow fever: a disease involving high fever and jaundice that is common in the tropics

Yellow jack: a flag flown on a vessel to show that it is under quarantine

Yellowdog contract: a contract which denies a person the right to join a worker's union

Yellow journalism: newspaper articles thought to be sensationalized in order to sell

more papers [see related article: The Yellow Journalism Wars]

BROWN
Brown sugar: partially refined sugar

Brown bagging: to bring a homemade packed lunch to work

Brown out: a partial loss of electrical power [see related article: Three Types of
Brownout]

Brownstone: a building made out of dark colored sandstone

In a brown study: describing someone as being in deep thought

GRAY
Gray market: the business of buying or selling items that are priced below what has
been regulated

Gray mood: an unhappy mood

Gray area: caught between two differing views

RED
Red carpet treatment: giving privileged treatment to an important person

Caught red-handed: clearly guilty

Red in the face: to become embarrassed

Seeing red: to be angered

Red flag: a warning of danger

Not worth a red cent: having no value

Red letter day: a memorable, joyful day [see related article: It's a Red Letter Day]

Red tape: excessive formalities in governmental process [see related article: Cutting
 Through Red Tape]

In the red: a term to describe an economic loss

PINK
Tickled pink: to be happy

In the pink: in good health -- this phrase hasn't always had this meaning.[see related
article: Being in the Pink]

Pinking shears: scissors with serrated blades

A pink elephant: term to describe hallucinations during intoxication

Pinkie finger: the smallest finger on the human hand

Pink slip: notice that employment is ending

Pink collar: refers to a particular class of jobs once only filled by women

PURPLE
Purple prose: an elabrorately written poem or paragraph in liteature

Purple heart: a medal awarded to a US soldier wounded in battle

Born to the purple: a person who is born into a noble or royal family

Lay it out in lavendar: very cool, relaxed, and in control

WHITE
White Christmas: the appearance of snow on Christmas day

White elephant: a possession that no longer holds value for its owner [see related
article: White Elephant: Revered or Revenge]

White flag: the signal of a peaceful surrender

White goods: a description of household items, such as linens, towels, and appliances

White hot: extreme manner of intensity

White lie: a harmless untruth usually told out of politeness [see related article: The
Short, Sweet Truth About White Lies]

White sauce: a sauce made from stock, butter, flour and seasonings

White feather: a symbol of cowardness

BLACK
 Black comedy: creating comedy out of a tragic event or situation

Black coffee: coffee without milk

Black belt: the highest awarded belt in the martial arts

Blackball: voting against someone in a secret manner to prevent them from becoming a
member of a club

Blackmail: to demand payment or action by means of a threat

Black sheep: a bad character in an otherwise respectable group

Black day: a bad day; often used before the name of a particular day to symbolize a
tragic event, such as black Tuesday or black Friday.