BBC Learning English

Quiznet
Colour expressions

1. "I feel sick." "Really? Well you do look a bit ________ ."
a) green
b) red
c) blue
d) black

2. When that car cut in front of me I just saw ________ and swore at the driver.
a) green
b) red
c) blue
d) black

3. "You can't put up my rent. Look at the contract, it's there in _____________ ."
a) black and blue
b) black and white
c) white and black
d) blue and black

4. I tripped over in the street yesterday and today I'm ______________ .

a) black and blue
b) black and white
c) white and black
d) blue and black

5. I said his new haircut made him look good. He spent so much on it that I had to tell a little
________ lie. It really looks awful.
a) black
b) red
c) green
d) white

6. It's a very formal event. The dress code is strictly ___________ .

a) white shirt
b) black tie
c) black jacket
d) white socks

Quiznet © BBC Learning English 2008

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ANSWERS:
1. "I feel sick." "Really? Well you do look a bit ________ ."
a) green – this is correct. If someone looks green they look ill.

2. When that car cut in front of me I just saw ________ and swore at the driver.
b) red – this is correct. To 'see red' means to become very angry.

3. "You can't put up my rent. Look at the contract, it's there in _____________ ."
a) black and blue - this is the wrong expression. This means to have a lot of bruises.
b) black and white – this is correct. It means it has been written down in an official
document.
c) white and black – this is not correct. These are the right words but in the wrong order.

4. I tripped over in the street yesterday and today I'm ______________ .

a) black and blue – this is correct. It means you have a lot of bruises.
d) blue and black – this is not correct. These are the right words but in the wrong order.

5. I said his new haircut made him look good. He spent so much on it that I had to tell a little
________ lie. It really looks awful.
d) white - this is correct. A white lie is a small lie that you tell so you don't hurt
someone's feeling.

6. It's a very formal event. The dress code is strictly ___________ .

b) black tie – this is correct. This is the expression for when a very formal standard of
dress is required.

You can try this quiz online at:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/apps/ifl/worldservice/quiznet/quizengine?ContentType=text/html;quiz=1156_colour

Quiznet © BBC Learning English 2008

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