Glossary black

as black as ink / pitch / the ace of spades exp. very dark, completely black

black and blue exp. having the skin darkly discoloured as the result of being hit

black as coal exp. extremely dark or evil, black as the night exp. extremely dark

black mark exp. a sign of disapproval or discredit placed against a person's name, often used figuratively

black sheep exp. someone who is thought by other members of their group to be a failure or to have brought shame on the group

black out (to) exp. to faint

black out n. an interruption in electronic power causing the lights to go out

blackball someone (to) exp. to prevent someone from being hired or accepted to a specific group

SYNONYM: see - blacklist someone (to)

blacklist someone (to) exp. to prevent someone from being hired or accepted to a specific group

NOTE: This expression comes from the McCarthy period when those who were thought to be communists or communist sympathizers were put on a "blacklist" and targeted for discrimination

blackguard n. a man who is not honourable, a scoundrel

give someone a black eye (to) exp. to hit someone in the eye causing the surrounding area to become bruised

In the black exp. Financially sound (said of a business)

little black book exp. a "secret" little book containing names and phone numbers of important individuals usually for dating

BLUE

’’What in blue blazes!?" exclam, exclamation of surprise and annoyance

blue adj. depressed

blue rinse exp. a slight blue colouring of the hair, thought typical of old conservative ladies

blue-eyed boy exp. (informal) someone's favourite (male) person, darling pet

bluegrass n. a type of country music based on the song and dances of the Southern Appalachians. It is usually played at a fast energetic tempo

blues (the) n. pi. a) melancholy songs; b) depression

blue-stocking exp. a woman having, or pretending to have literary tastes and learning

bolt from the blue exp. something unexpected and unpleasant

out of the blue exp. without warning, unexpectedly, out of nowhere

Variation: out of the clear blue exp.

swear up a blue streak (to) exp. to swear excessively

talk a blue streak exp. to talk much and rapidly

talk till one is blue in the face (to) exp. to talk while being ignored

BROWN

brownout n. a cut in power to some but not all electric lights in an area

brownie n. a) a friendly little fairy, a small elf-like creature, said to perform household chores, while people are asleep; b) (AmE) a chocolate cookie or cake, usually with nuts in it

GREY

grey area exp. unclear and uncertain issue

grey matter exp. intelligence, "brains"

GREEN

give somebody /get the green light exp. (informal) give somebody /get permission to do something

green adj. novice

green around the gills (to look) exp. to look sick

NOTE: Originally, this expression applied only to fish which, if green around the gills, were considered inedible because of sickness

green thumb (to have a green thumb) exp. to have a talent for gardening and making plants grow

greenbacks n. pi. money

NOTE: This term is outdated yet occasionally heard in old films

greenroom n. a room behind the stage (backstage) in a theatre or television studio where performers may relax

the grass is always greener on the other side exp. situations always seem better other than where one is

NOTE: This expression is also commonly contracted to "the grass is always greener."

the rub of the green exp. a piece of bad luck that has to be accepted.

PINK