“To wave a white flag”

Meaning:  To show that you’ve lost (a game, challenge or war) and you give up. 

Usage: While I was arguing with my mom about the party I waved a white flag. There was no
point in arguing. She wasn’t going to change her mind.

“As white as a ghost”

Meaning: To describe a person’s face being very pale (white) because of their shock or fear.

Usage: My friend turned as white as a ghost when she realized there was a stranger standing at
her bedroom window.

“To tell a white lie”

Meaning: To tell a small lie that doesn’t hurt another person.

Usage: We had to tell our mom a white lie about the money. We couldn’t let her know we’d
spent it all on chocolate.

“Black sheep of the family”

Meaning: A person who is different (usually in a negative way) to the rest of the other family
members.

Usage: Al is the only one in his family who hasn’t gone to college. He’s the only one who
doesn’t have a proper job. He’s considered to be the black sheep of the family.

“Black tie event”

Meaning: A formal event or party that men are expected to wear a black suit with a tie. Women
are expected to wear long formal dresses.

Usage: The Oscars is one of the world’s most famous black tie events.
“Out of the blue”

Meaning: Something happens unexpectedly (by surprise or without warning).

Usage: Mary just showed up at the house out of the blue yesterday. We thought she was still in
Europe.

“Catch someone red-handed”

Meaning: To catch a person doing something they were not supposed to be doing.
Usage: We caught Jake and Julia red-handed. They were hugging and kissing even though they
deny it (say it’s not true).

“A red flag”

Meaning: A sign that something that is not right. A warning sign.

Usage: Even though there were red flags in the relationship, Alice ignored them. Now she’s
getting a divorce.

“Red hot”
Meaning: To be in high demand, something that everybody wants.
Usage: When the iPhone first entered the market it was red hot. Shops sold them all quickly and
people had to wait to buy their new phones.

“Red tape”
Meaning: Too much formal paperwork to do something.
Usage: When people apply for a visa for another country there’s usually a lot of red tape.
 “Get the green light”
Meaning: To get the sign that it’s now okay to do something. To be given permission.
Usage: After two years of waiting, the Smith family was given the green light to build a house
on their land.

“The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence”

Meaning: The idea that things are always better in another place. Everything is better than a
person’s current situation.
Usage: Many people still see America as the land of dreams. But what they don’t realize is that
the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.
o
o
o
o
o
