Color Expressions

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Date:

Instructions: Test your knowledge of idioms and phrases that use colors!

1.
What does it mean to 'feel blue'?
A
To feel cold
B
To feel sick
C
To feel sad or depressed
D
To feel relaxed
2.
What does 'seeing red' mean?
A
Being extremely angry
B
Feeling embarrassed
C
Having poor eyesight
D
Watching a sunset
3.
What does a 'green thumb' refer to?
A
An injured finger
B
An unripe piece of fruit
C
A type of paint stain
D
A natural talent for gardening
4.
What does 'a white lie' refer to?
A
A lie told in writing
B
A harmless or trivial lie told to avoid hurting feelings
C
A lie about one's age
D
A lie told under oath
5.
If someone is described as 'green with envy,' what are they feeling?
A
Nauseated
B
Excited
C
Relieved
D
Very jealous
6.
What does 'caught red-handed' mean?
A
Having sunburned hands
B
Wearing red gloves
C
Caught in the act of doing something wrong
D
Having painted something red
7.
What does the expression 'out of the blue' mean?
A
From across the ocean
B
Completely unexpectedly
C
During a clear day
D
Feeling sad
8.
What does it mean to 'paint the town red'?
A
To decorate for a holiday
B
To vandalize buildings
C
To start a political campaign
D
To go out and celebrate enthusiastically
9.
What does 'a golden opportunity' refer to?
A
A sunny day for outdoor activities
B
A job in finance
C
An extremely favorable chance or occasion
D
A chance to find treasure
10.
What does the phrase 'in the pink' mean?
A
Feeling embarrassed
B
Wearing pink clothing
C
Being financially wealthy
D
In excellent health or condition
11.
What does the expression 'a grey area' refer to?
A
A boring topic
B
A foggy location
C
A situation that is unclear or not well-defined
D
An industrial district
12.
What does 'to be given the green light' mean?
A
To be told to slow down
B
To be given permission to proceed
C
To be put on a waiting list
D
To be shown the exit
13.
What does 'once in a blue moon' mean?
A
During nighttime only
B
Every month without fail
C
Very rarely
D
During a lunar eclipse
14.
What does the phrase 'to see the world through rose-colored glasses' mean?
A
To have poor eyesight
B
To view things in an overly optimistic way
C
To appreciate art and beauty
D
To travel around the world
15.
What does the expression 'to roll out the red carpet' mean?
A
To prepare for a fire drill
B
To start a new business
C
To give someone a lavish or special welcome
D
To redecorate a room

Answer Key

Question 1

C. To feel sad or depressed

To 'feel blue' means to feel sad or melancholy. The association of blue with sadness has been part of English since at least the 1300s.

Question 2

A. Being extremely angry

'Seeing red' means to become extremely angry or furious. The phrase may relate to the reddening of the face during anger or the red cape used in bullfighting.

Question 3

D. A natural talent for gardening

Having a 'green thumb' means having a natural ability to grow plants successfully. The phrase likely comes from the green algae stains that form on the hands of dedicated gardeners.

Question 4

B. A harmless or trivial lie told to avoid hurting feelings

A 'white lie' is a harmless or trivial lie, especially one told to avoid hurting someone's feelings. White has long been associated with purity and innocence, suggesting the lie is benign.

Question 5

D. Very jealous

'Green with envy' means extremely jealous. Shakespeare popularized the association of green with jealousy, calling it 'the green-eyed monster' in Othello.

Question 6

C. Caught in the act of doing something wrong

'Caught red-handed' means to be discovered in the act of committing a crime or misdeed. The phrase originally referred to being caught with blood on one's hands after a murder or poaching.

Question 7

B. Completely unexpectedly

'Out of the blue' means something that happens completely unexpectedly or without warning. It is short for 'out of the clear blue sky,' referring to a bolt of lightning from a seemingly cloudless sky.

Question 8

D. To go out and celebrate enthusiastically

'Paint the town red' means to go out and enjoy oneself flamboyantly, typically involving drinking and partying. One origin story credits the Marquis of Waterford, who literally painted buildings red during a night of revelry in 1837.

Question 9

C. An extremely favorable chance or occasion

A 'golden opportunity' refers to an excellent or ideal chance to do something valuable. Gold symbolizes something precious and rare, emphasizing the exceptional nature of the opportunity.

Question 10

D. In excellent health or condition

'In the pink' means to be in excellent health or top condition. The phrase dates to the 16th century, where 'pink' referred to the peak or epitome of something, not the color.

Question 11

C. A situation that is unclear or not well-defined

A 'grey area' refers to a situation, topic, or concept that is ambiguous or not clearly defined, falling between two distinct categories. Grey represents the blending of black and white, symbolizing the lack of clarity.

Question 12

B. To be given permission to proceed

'To be given the green light' means to receive approval or permission to go ahead with a plan or project. It comes from traffic signals, where green means go.

Question 13

C. Very rarely

'Once in a blue moon' means very rarely or almost never. A blue moon is the second full moon in a calendar month, which only occurs approximately every two to three years.

Question 14

B. To view things in an overly optimistic way

To 'see the world through rose-colored glasses' means to have an unrealistically optimistic or positive view of things, ignoring potential problems or negatives. The rosy tint symbolizes seeing everything as pleasant.

Question 15

C. To give someone a lavish or special welcome

'To roll out the red carpet' means to give someone an extravagant or ceremonious welcome. The tradition of laying a red carpet for distinguished guests dates back to ancient Greece, mentioned in Agamemnon by Aeschylus.

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