Question  |
Answer |
Writing that is more complicated than necessary. start learning
|
|
I hate purple prose. Why can't people just cut to the chase and write only what is worth writing?
|
|
|
1. To try too hard to please someone, especially people in authority, in a way that is not sincere and that other people find unpleasant; 2. A person who does such things. start learning
|
|
also: brown-noser I'm sick of Joey. He keeps brown-nosing and the worst thing is that my professor seems to like it. Ugh!
|
|
|
To be absorbed in one's thoughts (usually unhappy thoughts) or to be daydreaming. start learning
|
|
Come on, we're going shopping. Maybe that we'll get you out of this brown study you're in today.
|
|
|
1. To be inexperienced; 2. to be ecological in act and thought. start learning
|
|
Hey, don't worry. I remember what it was like to be green. It's better to ask questions than to mess something up.
|
|
|
1. Something that moves very fast; 2. A stream of words (when someone talks so much and so fast it seems he or she will never stop). start learning
|
|
Aunt Marge talked a blue streak and we had to sit there and listen to her all day. I'm so tired!
|
|
|
|
start learning
|
|
Are you feeling well? You're white as a sheet.
|
|
|
The blood of a noble family; a member of a wealthy family. start learning
|
|
Have you heard that Margot has blue blood? Her grandfather owns a real castle!
|
|
|
To not be in debt anymore start learning
|
|
I admit that I had some financial problems but I'm in the black now and everything's fine.
|
|
|
About a person who is always good and honest. start learning
|
|
My child is whiter than white. She couldn't have lied!
|
|
|
|
start learning
|
|
Oh my God! What happened? You're all black and blue.
|
|
|
|
start learning
|
|
I'm feeling a bit blue today. Do you feel like coming over? I could use some company.
|
|
|
To have debts, to spend more money than you earn. start learning
|
|
His business is in the red. He needs to find a way to earn some money or he'll get into serious troubles.
|
|
|
To be jealous, envious of somebody or something. start learning
|
|
Did you see Julie's reaction? She was literally green with envy when she saw Mark with his new girlfriend.
|
|
|
|
start learning
|
|
My neighbour is almost 80 years old but she's still in the pink.
|
|
|
Something that costs a lot of money and is useless or troublesome. start learning
|
|
My grandparents were so happy to give me their old house, but, for me, it's rather a white elephant. It costs me a lot to keep it in a good state and I can't sell it because that would break their hearts!
|
|
|
A list of people, organizations etc. that are under suspicion, disfavour etc. start learning
|
|
Be careful or Susie will put you on her blacklist. She does it to everyone who has ever been rude to her. Seriously. I wonder how long this list is by now.
|
|
|
Someone who is thought to be a bad person according to the rest of his or her family. start learning
|
|
Being the only one in his family who's not a doctor, Mark is thought to be a black sheep.
|
|
|
Humour that deals with sad, unpleasant aspects of life in a bitter or ironic way. start learning
|
|
I'm not a fan of black humour. I don't think it's appropriate to make fun of things that are so serious.
|
|
|
Illegal trading of goods that are not allowed to be bought and sold. start learning
|
|
You can find stolen goods on the black market.
|
|
|
A type of journalism that presents little or no legitimate news and, instead, uses eye-catching headlines and photos to sell more newspapers. start learning
|
|
Oh please! How can you believe what they are writing? Don't you know it's just yellow journalism?
|
|
|
To edit, correct or delete. start learning
|
|
I can bear the criticism. Please, blue-pencil as much as you like in my book. I just need an honest opinion.
|
|
|
A state of strong emotion, excitement or activity. start learning
|
|
She was in white heat when she was writing that message to Tom and now she regrets it.
|
|
|
A film that shows people having sex. start learning
|
|
also: blue film You can't watch this! Blue movies are not for children!
|
|
|
To give someone a special welcome (usually given to an important person) start learning
|
|
to roll out the red carpet My sister is coming home after five years of living in France. I think we need to roll out the red carpet.
|
|
|
An intelligent and well-educated woman who is interested in books and spends most of her time studying. start learning
|
|
My girlfriend is a bluestocking. It's impossible to find a subject she has nothing to say about.
|
|
|
|
start learning
|
|
I hit my pinkie today. I know it's only one finger but it feels like I can't move my hand at all.
|
|
|
Full evening dress; most formal evening dress code for men. start learning
|
|
It's a white-tie party. You really think you can sneak in wearing your jeans?
|
|
|
|
start learning
|
|
to have a yellow streak down one's back Sam has a yellow streak down his back. He won't go with us.
|
|
|
In the act of doing something wrong (e.g. committing a crime). start learning
|
|
The thief was caught red-handed.
|
|
|
Official rules and/or procedures that seem unnecessary and result in delay of results. start learning
|
|
No one wants to deal with red tape, but everybody has to.
|
|
|
Suddenly, without warning. start learning
|
|
I'm sorry for calling you out of the blue, but I need a favour.
|
|
|
A name given to a day claimed to be the most depressing day in the year. start learning
|
|
No wonder you're feeling a bit depressed today. It's Blue Monday.
|
|
|
|
start learning
|
|
I thought that the necklace I found was precious but apparently it's not worth a red cent. What a pity!
|
|
|
A lie you tell in order to be polite or to stop somebody from being upset by the truth. start learning
|
|
Well, I know I should have told Alex the truth, but I couldn't bring myself to it. It was just a white lie. It didn't hurt anybody and it sure made him feel better!
|
|
|
A situation that is unclear; a subject that people don't know how to deal with because there are no clear rules. start learning
|
|
It's a grey area of the law.
|
|
|
To say (or do) something that you know will harm someone's reputation. start learning
|
|
to blacken someone's name Don't say it was an accident! You knew that if people find out about Charlie's past, they will get suspicious. You did it to blacken his name!
|
|
|
Very clear, clearly defined. start learning
|
|
You don't need to explain this to me. It's black and white.
|
|
|
To look ill (as if about to throw up). start learning
|
|
to be green around the gills You are green around the gills. Maybe we should stop the car for a moment? I'm afraid you're getting motion sickness.
|
|
|
To surrender, to give in. start learning
|
|
to wave (raise / carry) a white flag I couldn't take it any longer. I just had to wave a white flag. I hate arguing with Janice.
|
|
|
An expression on one's face that shows anger and/or hate. start learning
|
|
Wow, what did you do to deserve that black look? She must hate you!
|
|
|
A person who is employed in a job that is traditionally considered to be women's work (e.g. nurse, babysitter). start learning
|
|
It's not typical for men to be pink-collar workers, but it happens more and more often.
|
|
|
A person who performs a manual labour (except agriculture). start learning
|
|
The term "blue-collar workers" refers to the fact that manual labourers used to wear blue overalls.
|
|
|
A person who performs administrative work. start learning
|
|
Ironically, white-collar workers don't wear white collars anymore. It's all about smart casual now.
|
|
|
|
start learning
|
|
Don't worry about Kate. She's a true-blue and I trust her.
|
|
|
A law that prohibits certain practices (that are considered immoral for religious reasons) on Sundays. start learning
|
|
Blue laws are enforced in some European countries. That's why most shops are closed on Sundays.
|
|
|
A state of great terror, confusion and deep thought. start learning
|
|
Carrie has been in a blue funk since the accident. She's not herself now.
|
|
|
1. A time when the light and power go out. 2. A term used to describe when a person is so drunk that they wake up the next morning with no recollection of what happened. start learning
|
|
There was a blackout yesterday. Suddenly, the whole city became dark.
|
|
|
An idiom that means you should not criticize others for a fault you have yourself. start learning
|
|
the pot calling the kettle black You think I am mean? Isn't that like the pot calling the kettle black?
|
|
|
A positive attitude that makes you fail to notice negative things. start learning
|
|
Ever since she started dating James, she sees everything through rose-coloured glasses. Nothing can ruin her mood.
|
|
|
A prize for first place; something that is excellent, the best of a particular group. start learning
|
|
Your performance was amazing, you deserve a blue ribbon.
|
|
|
1. Promising, hopeful, suggesting good fortune; 2. Easy and pleasant. start learning
|
|
Things are looking rosy. I think we can actually win this year.
|
|
|
An attempt at covering up something bad. start learning
|
|
Don't lie to me. I know the whole story was just a whitewash.
|
|
|
To become unconscious suddenly, for a short period of time. start learning
|
|
The pain was so intense that Susan blacked out for a moment.
|
|
|
The act of getting money from someone or forcing them to do something against their will by threatening them. start learning
|
|
He was found guilty of blackmail and sent to prison.
|
|
|
To get money from someone or force them to do something by using threats. start learning
|
|
My sister blackmailed me into cleaning her room by using my childhood photos and threatening to show them to my new boyfriend.
|
|
|
A person's intelligence, brains. start learning
|
|
Use your grey matter! It's not that difficult!
|
|
|
A mean, despicable person. start learning
|
|
I can't believe you fell for Steve. Everyone knows he's a yellow-dog.
|
|
|
|
start learning
|
|
My friend is so yellow. She won't go out when it's dark outside. She's too scared!
|
|
|
Something that takes people's attention away from the matter being dealt with; something that is misleading. start learning
|
|
This book is full of red herrings. I realised what was actually going on at the very end!
|
|
|
A formal evening dresscode. start learning
|
|
I know that the invitation said "black tie", but it doesn't mean you actually need to wear a black tie. You can wear a gray one if you want. Just dress formally.
|
|
|
A special, happy and important day for you (one that can be marked with red color in the calendar). start learning
|
|
It's a red-letter day for me and Harry. It's our anniversary today!
|
|
|
A poor white person without education who lives in the countryside in southern United States. start learning
|
|
You can't call people rednecks. It's rude.
|
|
|
|
start learning
|
|
I got so angry that I saw red. I hate Jules!
|
|
|
To vote against; to exclude someone from a group/profession. start learning
|
|
He was blackballed because of the serious argument he had with the chairman.
|
|
|
To avoid thinking about or remembering something (usually because it is stressful or unpleasant). start learning
|
|
I tried very hard to black out the memory of seeing you in that costume but it comes back every time I look at you. I'm sorry, I just can't stop laughing!
|
|
|
A document saying that you don't have your job anymore. start learning
|
|
I got a pink slip today. I will have to find a new job now.
|
|
|
|
start learning
|
|
I was standing there red-faced as the other kids were laughing at me.
|
|
|
|
start learning
|
|
My boss gave me the green light to start working on a new project.
|
|
|
To do something completely or with great effect. start learning
|
|
Whatever she does, she does it up brown. She's a professional.
|
|
|
