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.
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:
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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.
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Fill in the blanks with the correct color idiom.
Discussion Questions:
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