英语讲义【160】和颜色有关的惯用语

中文里的颜色词不少，与颜色有关的惯用语也很特出。英语也如此，下面便是些例子：

　　（1） In the black 盈利：
　　Having paid off all the debts, the company is now in the black.

　　（2） In the red 亏损；负债
　　On account of mismanagement and some unexpected bad debts, some financial companies are in the red.

　　（3） Black and blue 青一块紫一块：
　　The shop-keeper quarrelled with a rascal and was beaten black and blue.

　　（4）The black sheep of the family败家子：
　　Among Mr Brown's Children, Alex did not behave himself and eventually became a social outcast. He was the black sheep of the family.

　　（5） In black and white 写出或印出：
　　I don't want a verbal promise but an agreement in black and white.

　　（6） Not so/ as black as one is painted 不如所形容的坏：
　　Many people complained about Daniel's behaviour, but he was not as black as he was painted.

　　（7） A bolt from the blue 睛天霹雳：
　　The woman was shocked at the bad news, which came like a bolt from the blue.

　　（8） In a blue funk 惊恐万状：
　　Jenny has been in a blue funk since she failed in her first job interview.

　　（9） Once in a blue moon 偶尔为之：
　　For lack of leisure, some working people went shopping once in a blue moon.

　　（10） Disappear/Vanish into the blue 突然消失：
　　A bird was standing on a window sill. All at once, if flew away and disappeared into the blue.

　　（11） Give …… greenlight to …… 批准……做……：
　　The authorities have given our department the greenlight to purchase the equipment required.

　　（12） Green with envy 非常妒忌：
　　On hearing about Cathy's promotion, Jane is green with envy.

　　（13） Catch …… red-handed 当场被捕：
　　The shop-lifter stole something valuable and was caught red-handed.

　　（14） Roll out the red carpet 隆重欢迎：
　　When a foreign dignitary comes to visit the country, the government often rolls out the red carpet for him.

　　（15） Cut the red tape 取消繁文缛节：
　　If the authorities concerned can cut the red tape, a lot of work can be more quickly done.

　　（16） See red 突然发怒：
　　When Mrs Lin entered the guest room, it was in a mess; she saw red and scolded the maid for not tidying it up

　　（17） Turn as white as a sheet 脸色变得很苍白：
　　When the car driver received a traffic police's summons, he turned as white as a sheet.

　　（18） A white lie 善意的谎言：
　　As Jenny did not want to go to Tom's party, she told him that she was busy. Such a white lie is better than hurting his feelings in other ways.

　　（19） A white-collar worker 白领工人：
　　A secretary is a white-collar worker, while road repairing is a blue-collar job.

　　（20） A grey area 含糊不清之处：
　　The motorists backed their cars and knocked against each other. Who was in the wrong? It's a grey area, isn't it?