Idioms from colors
The black market ( the market not controlled by the government, where things are sold in private and often against the law )
You can go to the bank to change dollars. But if you change money on the black market, you often get more money for each dollar.
To fell blue ( to feel sad )
I was alone on my birthday and felling blue. Then Anny called and invited me out, and I felt better.
The green light [/b]( the okay to start something )
The bank has given us the money. Now we have the green light to start the project.
Green with envy ( jealous of someone else’s good fortune )
I was green with envy when I learned that Luis had won a trip to Europe.
In black and white ( very clear and easy to understand )
I could not believe it, but there it was in black and white, as clear as it could be. The letter said that I had won a trip to Europe.
In the black ( having money )
Theo earns a thousand dollars a week. He does not have to worry about having enough money. He’s always in the black.
In the red ( owing money, in debt )
I never have enough money to pay my bills. I’m always in the red.
Out of the blue ( by surprise, unexpectedly )
The news of factory’s closing came out of the blue. No one was expecting it.
The red carpet ( special honors for a special or important person )
When the movie star visited, our town rolled out the red carpet. There was a parade and a special dinner in her honor.
Red tape ( complicated official procedures and forms )
Every time you want to get a new passport, you have to go through a lot of red tape. It’s a lot of time.
A white lie ( something that is not true but that causes no harm )
I did not feel like going out. So I told a white lie, and I said I did not feel well.
Idioms from food
The apple of one’s eye ( someone’s favorite person )
The baby is the apple of one’s eye. He thinks that she’s wonderful.
Baloney ( nonsense )
His speech about the importance of helping the poor is baloney. He would not even give his best friend a dime.
To cream someone ( to totally beat someone in a game )
Our basketball team really creamed it’s opponent. Our team won by a score of 120 to 60.
Fishy ( suspicious, not right or honest )
On our return home, we found the front door open, and we suspected that something fishy was going on.
To go bananas ( to go crazy )
She went bananas when she heard had won first prize in the talent contest.
In a pickle ( in trouble )
Bill was in a pick. After filling his car with gas, he could not find the money to pay.
A lemon ( something that does not work, usually an electrical appliance or mechanical item )
The new tape player I bought was a lemon, and I’m going to take it back to the store for a new one.
Nuts ( stupid man , crazy man )
Tony must be nuts to pay over a hundred dollars for a shirt.
A peach ( a very nice person )
When I was sick last week, Susan visited me and bought groceries for me. She’s a peach.
Peanuts ( a very small amount of money )
Rose buys used clothes at second-hand stores, and she gets nice-looking clothes for peanuts.
A piece of cake ( something that is very easy to do )
The math test was a piece of cake for John. He is very good at doing math problems.
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The black market ( the market not controlled by the government, where things are sold in private and often against the law )
You can go to the bank to change dollars. But if you change money on the black market, you often get more money for each dollar.
To fell blue ( to feel sad )
I was alone on my birthday and felling blue. Then Anny called and invited me out, and I felt better.
The green light [/b]( the okay to start something )
The bank has given us the money. Now we have the green light to start the project.
Green with envy ( jealous of someone else’s good fortune )
I was green with envy when I learned that Luis had won a trip to Europe.
In black and white ( very clear and easy to understand )
I could not believe it, but there it was in black and white, as clear as it could be. The letter said that I had won a trip to Europe.
In the black ( having money )
Theo earns a thousand dollars a week. He does not have to worry about having enough money. He’s always in the black.
In the red ( owing money, in debt )
I never have enough money to pay my bills. I’m always in the red.
Out of the blue ( by surprise, unexpectedly )
The news of factory’s closing came out of the blue. No one was expecting it.
The red carpet ( special honors for a special or important person )
When the movie star visited, our town rolled out the red carpet. There was a parade and a special dinner in her honor.
Red tape ( complicated official procedures and forms )
Every time you want to get a new passport, you have to go through a lot of red tape. It’s a lot of time.
A white lie ( something that is not true but that causes no harm )
I did not feel like going out. So I told a white lie, and I said I did not feel well.
Idioms from food
The apple of one’s eye ( someone’s favorite person )
The baby is the apple of one’s eye. He thinks that she’s wonderful.
Baloney ( nonsense )
His speech about the importance of helping the poor is baloney. He would not even give his best friend a dime.
To cream someone ( to totally beat someone in a game )
Our basketball team really creamed it’s opponent. Our team won by a score of 120 to 60.
Fishy ( suspicious, not right or honest )
On our return home, we found the front door open, and we suspected that something fishy was going on.
To go bananas ( to go crazy )
She went bananas when she heard had won first prize in the talent contest.
In a pickle ( in trouble )
Bill was in a pick. After filling his car with gas, he could not find the money to pay.
A lemon ( something that does not work, usually an electrical appliance or mechanical item )
The new tape player I bought was a lemon, and I’m going to take it back to the store for a new one.
Nuts ( stupid man , crazy man )
Tony must be nuts to pay over a hundred dollars for a shirt.
A peach ( a very nice person )
When I was sick last week, Susan visited me and bought groceries for me. She’s a peach.
Peanuts ( a very small amount of money )
Rose buys used clothes at second-hand stores, and she gets nice-looking clothes for peanuts.
A piece of cake ( something that is very easy to do )
The math test was a piece of cake for John. He is very good at doing math problems.
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