W języku angielskim jak wiemy, znaleźć możemy bardzo dużą ilość idiomów. Idiomy te związane są  z wieloma tematami. Mogą to być idiomy związane z częściami ciała, zwierzętami, chorobami, życiem, śmiercią, jedzeniem, ubraniem, językami i narodowościami oraz wiele, wiele innych.

Ja wybrałam te związane z kolorami, gdyż dla niektórych podanych niżej idiomów, dość łatwo jest odnaleźć ich polski odpowiednik. Faktem jest, że są one stosowane bardzo często  w mowie codziennej mieszkańców krajów obszaru anglojęzycznego. Wiadomo również, że jeśli znamy te idiomy lepiej będziemy rozumieć język pisany i mówiony.

 

RED

a red rag to a bull – a source of violent anger to someone

a red-letter day – a day of special importance e.g. a wedding, the celebration of a victory

to be in the red – to be in debt

a redneck (AmE) – insensitive person

to catch someone red-handed – to catch someone in the act of committing a crime, usually a theft

to paint the town red – to celebrate by running wild, drinking and making a disorder

to see the red light – to recognize approaching danger

to be shown the red card – to be dismissed from the job

 

BLUE

to feel/ look blue – to feel/ look depressed

once in a blue moon – extremely rarely, once in a lifetime

a blue stocking – a woman more interested in learning and an academic career than in a marriage and bringing up children

blue blood/ blue blooded – of a nobility or aristocracy

to be a blue – to represent Cambridge University or Oxford University at games or sports

to blue one’s money – spend money wildly

men in blue – the police, from the colour of their uniform

a bolt from the blue – some unexpected bad news

a true blue – one whose loyalty can always be counted on

 

GREEN

to be green – to be inexperienced

to be green with envy – to feel extremely envious/ jealous

to have green fingers – to be blessed with luck in the growing of plants and flowers

to give the green light to – to give permission to go ahead

 

 

YELLOW

to be yellow – to be cowardly

to be shown a yellow card – to receive a warning

 

WHITE

a white wedding – a wedding in church

a white lie – a harmless or well – intentioned lie

white horses – white waves

a white Christmas – Christmas when snow has fallen and the countryside is white

lily white – of great purity and delicacy

a white-collar worker – the professional or office worker who wears a shirt with a white collar

 

BLACK

to be on the black list – to be on a list of people under suspicion, who have committed crimes

the black sheep – a member of family who has disgraced himself

a black comedy – a story or play in which the theme is sad or tragic

to be in the black – to be in a credit

to blacken someone’s character – to make someone appear worse than he really is by exaggerating his faults

a blackleg – someone who continues to work during a strike

the black market – illegal buying and selling of products

 

BROWN

to be as brown as a berry – to be pleasantly tanned by the sun

 

GOLDEN

a golden opportunity – a wonderful opportunity that may never repeat

the golden rule – a wise rule, the best rule

a golden boy – a young man with outstanding skills usually in sport or for his good looks

the golden mean – moderation in all things

to worship the golden calf – to worship money

 

SILVER

a silver tongue – eloquence and charm

born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth – born into a wealthy family

 

 

 

EXERCISES

 

1. Match these idioms with English explanation:

a) to be green               (1) someone representing Oxford in sport

b) a red – letter day      (2) extremely rarely

c) a white lie                  (3) to be inexperienced

d) to be a blue                        (4) a harmless or well – intentioned lie

e) once in a blue moon      (5) a day of special importance

f) white horses              (6) to be cowardly

g) the black sheep                  (7) white waves

h) to be yellow              (8) disgraced person in a family

 

2. Complete the sentences with a correct idiom:

a) Diane left me. Things look ____________ now.

b) Unfortunately, my favourite uncle visits us ________________________ .

c) _______________ appear to be galloping forward on to the shore like horses.

d) That was the only ___________________. It won’t happen again, I’m afraid.

e) I don’t like going out with that ________________________ . She’s only interested in books.

f) That story was a real _________________ . After all I started to cry.

g) My mother loves flowers and she has ________________ for them.

 

KEY:

1. a3, b5, c4, d1, e2, f7, g8, h6
2. a) blue

b) once in a blue moon

c) white horses

d) golden opportunity

e) blue stocking

f) black comedy

g) green fingers

mgr Agnieszka Pastusiak