COLOUR MEANING EXAMPLE

A blackhead .˺ A very small, dark spot on the skin caused by a .˺ Acne is the blanket term used for skin irritations, including .˺
blocked pore. blackheads, whiteheads and pimples.
Be (down) in black and .˻ To be written down. .˻ I couldn't believe it was true, but there it was, in black and .˻
white white.
Be in the black .˼ To have money in the bank and are not in debt. .˼ Incredibly, we're still in the black after our holiday. .˼
Black book .˽ A book containing a list of secret contacts, or of .˽ Moreau even has a little black book in which she crosses out .˽
the names of people liable to be punished. the names of her victims.
Black ice .˾ A thin transparent layer of new ice on a road or .˾ The Longfield Road is completely out of bounds because of .˾
similar surface. the amount of black ice on the road.
Black look .˿ An expression on your face that is full of anger .˿ I tried to apologize for what I said, but she gave me such a .˿
and hate. black look that I knew it wasn't the right time to talk to her
yet.
Black magic .̀ A type of magic that is believed to use evil .̀ I don't know whether you believe in witchcraft, sorcery, black .̀
spirits to do harmful things. magic, and all that kind of thing.
Black market .́ Illegal trading of goods that are not allowed to .́ They blamed high taxes for the growth of a black market in .́
be bought and sold. cigarettes.
Black money .̂ Money that is earned illegally, or on which the .̂ One envelope contained the dinero negro, or black money. .̂
necessary tax is not paid.
Black mood .˺ ˹ A very unhappy feeling. .˺ ˹ She was in one of her black moods today. .˺ ˹
Black spot .˺ ˺ A dangerous place because several accidents .˺ ˺ This road has many accident black spots particularly around .˺ ˺
have happened there. the Dromore west area.
Black tie .˺ ˻ Clothes worn for very formal social occasions. .˺ ˻ Do we need to wear black tie? .˺ ˻
BLACK
Black-and-white .˺ ˼ A subject or situation is one in which it is easy .˺ ˼ Disarmament isn't a black-and-white issue for me. .˺ ˼
to understand what is right and wrong.
Blackball .˺ ˽ To vote against allowing someone to be a .˺ ˽ He was initially blackballed because of a dispute he once had .˺ ˽
member of an organization or group. with a couple of the committee members.
Blacklist .˺ ˾ A list of names of people or groups who are to .˺ ˾ I hear they keep a blacklist of all the people they disagree .˺ ˾
be banned, censured, or are under suspicion. with.
Not be as black as you are .˺ ˿ Not to be as bad as people say you are. .˺ ˿ I've met him a few times. He's not as black as he's painted. .˺ ˿
painted
Paint a black picture of .˺ ̀ To describe a situation or person as extremely .˺ ̀ You always paint a black picture of him, but he's a decent guy .˺ ̀
sth/sb bad. if you get to know him.
See things in black and .˺ ́ To have a simple view of what is right and .˺ ́ You cannot see everything in this world in black and white .˺ ́
white wrong, or good and bad. terms.
The new black .˺ ̂ Something is the most popular or fashionable .˺ ̂ Designers say that brown is the new black. .˺ ̂
colour or thing at the moment.
The pot calling the kettle .˻ ˹ Means people should not criticize someone .˻ ˹ Elliott accused me of being selfish. Talk about the pot calling .˻ ˹
black else for a fault that they have themselves. the kettle black!