Idiomatic Expressions with Colors Posted by Bridgette on Apr 30, 2021 in Idioms, Italian Language
Le espressioni idiomatiche con i colori – Idiomatic expressions with colors
Ciao a tutti!
We all know how important idiomatic expressions are when learning a language, for comprehension as well as to sound more like a native speaker. Here’s a list of some idiomatic expressions specifically with color.
Passare la notte in bianco
Translation: to spend the night in white
Meaning: to have a sleepless night
Essere al verde
Translation: to be in the green
Meaning: to be broke (to have no money)
Fare una settimana bianca
Translation: to do a white week
Meaning: to go on a ski trip
Essere verde dall’invidia
Translation: to be green from envy
Meaning: to be green with envy (to be jealous)
Di punto in bianco
Translation: at point in white
Meaning: from out of nowhere
Mettere nero su bianco
Translation: to put black on white
Meaning: to put it in black and white (to write it down)
Dirne di tutti i colori
Translation: to say things of every color
Meaning: to say all sorts of things
Vedere tutto nero
Translation: to see everything black
Meaning: to see things in a negative light
Vedere tutto rosa
Translation: to see everything rose-colored
Meaning: to go through life with rose-colored glasses (to be optimistic)
Fare/Dare un assegno in bianco
Translation: to give a white check
Meaning: to give a blank check
Mangiare in bianco
Translation: to eat in white
Meaning: to eat light, plain food
Andare in bianco
Translation: to go white
Meaning: to fail (at a romanic relationship)
Essere una mosca bianca
Translation: to be a white fly
Meaning: to be the only one who is different (positive or negative)
Essere la pecora nera della famiglia
Translation: to be the black sheep of the family
Meaning: to be the one who is different
Essere d’umore nero
Translation: to be in a black mood
Meaning: to be in a really bad mood
Lavorare in nero
Translation: to work in black
Meaning: to work and be paid under the table
Cronaca nera
Translation: black news
Meaning: crime news
Una giornata grigia
Translation: a gray day
Meaning: a difficult day, a hard day
Avere il pollice verde
Translation: to have the green thumb
Meaning: to have a green thumb (to be good with plants)
Vedere i sorci verdi
Translation: to see green mice
Meaning: to go through something very difficult
Cronaca (o film) rosa
Translation: pink news or film
Meaning: gossip news or ‘chick flick’
Romanzi (o film) gialli
Translation: yellow novels or movies
Meaning: crime novels or movies
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Comments:
Jan Mackay:
Hi
This is so good….Thank-you very much….fascinating!
Just one small thing…by ‘check’ do you mean ‘cheque’ in the monetary sense?
Grazie mille 😀
Bridgette:
@Jan Mackay Yes! In American English we write ‘check’ – so I’m guessing you are from the UK. 🙂
Rosanna McFarlin:
Tutte frasi idiomatiche che si usano spesso. Grazie.
Bridgette:
@Rosanna McFarlin Grazie Rosanna, hai ragione!
Leah:
Hehe, “vedere i sorci verdi”– mi place quest’uno tanto. 🙂 Mi fa sorridere. Non ho sentito prima di adesso.