15 Idioms on colours - Set 01

Posted by Olympiad Tester on Dec 29, 2023

1. Black and white

Meaning: Clear and straightforward; without ambiguity.
Sentence Usage 1: The rules were presented in black and white, leaving no room for interpretation.
Sentence Usage 2: The contract was written in black and white to avoid any misunderstandings.

2. Put something down in black and white

Meaning: To write or document something clearly and explicitly.
Sentence Usage 1: I requested the terms of the agreement to be put down in black and white before proceeding.
Sentence Usage 2: It's essential to put the project specifications down in black and white for everyone's reference.

3. Black as night

4. Black and blue

Meaning: Bruised or battered, especially due to physical injuries.
Sentence Usage 1: After the fight, his face was black and blue.
Sentence Usage 2: The athlete's legs were black and blue from the intense workout.

5. Black eye

Meaning: A bruise or discoloration around the eye resulting from a blow.
Sentence Usage 1: He sported a black eye after the altercation at the bar.
Sentence Usage 2: She covered her black eye with sunglasses to conceal the injury.

6. Black out

Meaning: To lose consciousness or blackout.
Sentence Usage 1: The stress caused her to black out momentarily.
Sentence Usage 2: The athlete experienced a black out during the intense workout.

7. Black as a skillet

8. Black market

Meaning: An illegal or underground market where goods are bought and sold against the law.
Sentence Usage 1: During wartime, many goods were available only on the black market.
Sentence Usage 2: The black market for rare artifacts thrived despite legal consequences.

9. Blackball someone

Meaning: To vote against or exclude someone from a group.
Sentence Usage 1: The club members decided to blackball the new applicant without giving a reason.
Sentence Usage 2: He feared being blackballed by the team after the disagreement.

10. Blacklist someone

Meaning: To put someone's name on a list of people who are disapproved of or are to be punished.
Sentence Usage 1: The employee was blacklisted by the company for unethical behavior.
Sentence Usage 2: The artist was blacklisted by several galleries after the controversial exhibition.

11. Pot calling the kettle black (shortened version: pot kettle black)

Meaning: Accusing someone of a fault that you have yourself.
Sentence Usage 1: It's a case of the pot calling the kettle black when he criticized her spending habits.
Sentence Usage 2: Pointing out others' mistakes while neglecting your own is like the pot calling the kettle black.

12. Blackmail someone

Meaning: Coercing someone by threatening to reveal embarrassing or damaging information.
Sentence Usage 1: He attempted to blackmail her by threatening to expose her secrets.
Sentence Usage 2: Blackmailing public figures for money is a common tactic used by some criminals.

13. In someone’s black books

Meaning: To be in disfavor with someone; to be on someone's bad side.
Sentence Usage 1: Ever since the argument, I've been in her black books, and she ignores me.
Sentence Usage 2: Being caught gossiping put him in the boss's black books.

14. Black tie event/affair

Meaning: A formal event or party where guests are expected to wear black-tie attire.
Sentence Usage 1: The gala was a black-tie affair, requiring attendees to wear formal evening attire.
Sentence Usage 2: The invitation specified that it was a black-tie event, so guests arrived in elegant dresses and tuxedos.

15. Black sheep

Meaning: A person who is considered a disgrace to a family or group.
Sentence Usage 1: Despite being the black sheep of the family, he managed to turn his life around.
Sentence Usage 2: Every family has a black sheep who doesn't conform to societal expectations.