Adult ESL Lessons: Color Idioms (Intermediate)

This is Lesson 8, “Color Idioms,” from our collection of intermediate-level adult ESL lessons. The lesson introduces several common color idioms, followed by a review exercise and discussion questions. This content-packed lesson is written with relatively simple English to help students transition to a more advanced level of English understanding and fluency. This lesson is available for free download, and you can download many other adult ESL lessons like this one in our book ESL Pathways: Bridges.

Download lesson as pdf
Adult ESL Lessons (Intermediate): Color Idioms

ADULT ESL LESSONS: Who’s the Best Person for the Job? (Text-Only Version)

Colors can be used to express different kinds of feelings and situations.  Look at these different English idioms that use color.  An idiom is a commonly used phrase.  Do you know what they mean?  Try to match the idiom with its meaning.

 

Color Idiom:

 

 

Meaning:

 

He was tickled pink.

 

I see him only once in a blue moon.

 

His neighbor was green with envy.

 

Their business is in the red.

 

They hope it will be in the black next year.

 

I see red when people litter.

 

Mondays always make me feel blue.

 

The doctor told me I was in the pink.

 

Children should not watch blue movies.

 

Last night we had a black out.

 

She passed her exams with flying colors.

 

The boy told the teacher a white lie.

 

John got a pink slip from work last week.

 

Let’s paint the town red this weekend.

 

He was as white as a ghost.

 

Go out and have a good time.

 

Fired notice.

 

Very healthy.

 

A lie that doesn’t hurt anyone.

 

Power failure.

 

Very afraid.

 

Very happy.

 

Pornographic movies.

 

With great success.

 

Become angry.

 

Very jealous of someone.

 

Feel depressed.

 

Making a profit.

 

Losing money.

 

Very seldom, almost never.

 

Fill in the blanks with the correct color idiom.

  1. My sister became ______________________ when she saw the man at the window.
  2. When my cousin came to visit us, we decided to go out and ___________________.
  3. I received my ___________________ last week and I am now looking for a new job.
  4. I told my boss a ___________. I said I was sick yesterday but actually I wasn’t.
  5. She passed her course  ____________________ and wants to go out and celebrate.
  6. He really _____________ last night when I told him I wouldn’t come to work today.
  7. The company has been ________________________ since they began to cut costs.
  8. The company has been ____________ since their exports decreased by 35 per cent.
  9. I was ______________ when I heard that she would be going to London for a week.
  10. We go out for Italian food ____________________________ although we enjoy it.
  11. She was__________________________________________ when you visited her.
  12. There was a __________________ in our house last night.  We had to use candles.
  13. At the party last weekend some people were watching a _____________________.
  14. I need to have a physical exam next week.  I hope I am ____________________.
  15. My classmate is _______________________________.  I hope I can cheer her up.

Discussion Questions:

  1. When was the last time you were tickled pink?  What happened?
  2. What things make you happy?  What things make you unhappy?
  3. What things do you do only once in a blue moon?  Why do you do them so seldom?
  4. Have you ever been green with envy?  Who were you envious of?
  5. Has anybody ever been envious of you?  Why?
  6. Which local businesses are in the red?  Why is their business successful?
  7. Which local businesses are in the black?  Why is their business unsuccessful?
  8. What things make you see red?
  9. When was the last time you were really angry?  What happened?
  10. What things make you feel blue?
  1. When was the last time you were really sad?  What happened?
  2.  Do you think you are in the pink?  How is your health?
  3.  When was the last time you were sick?  What did you do?
  4.  Have you ever watched blue movies?  Did you like them?
  5.  Have you ever been in a black out?  What happened?
  6.  How can you prepare for a blackout?
  7.  Have you ever passed an exam with flying colors?
  8.  Do you like to take exams?  Why?
  1.  Have you ever told anyone a white lie?  Why?
  2.  Why do people tell white lies?
  3.  Do you know anyone who has received a pink slip?
  4.  How would you like to paint the town red?
  5.  Do you like to drink alcohol?  Why?
  6.  Have you ever been as white as a ghost?  
  7.  What things are you afraid of?  Why are you afraid of them?  
  8.  When was the last time you were really scared?  What happened?