Colors in Idiom Trivia

1. Which colourful group of people from the 1960s were associated with the term "Purple patch"?

From Quiz Color Me Purple Part 5: Shades in Idioms

Answer: Hippies

Although "purple patch" and "purple prose" meant one and the same thing - elaborate and overly decorated writing - until the 20th century rolled around, the term "purple patch" had evolved by then to refer to a time of great prosperity or creativity in a person's life. Then, however, "purple patch" took on a different meaning once more in the 1960s when hippies began wearing purple velvet clothing, or simply sewed purple patches onto jeans to make them appear even more appealing. Jimi Hendrix was the very epitome of the purple patch movement at this stage, so much so that manufacturers even created a dye named after him. This was known as the Hendrix Purple. Question and additional information supplied by Creedy.

From Quiz Seeing Red

Answer: rage

Do you literally see red when enraged? In studies, some people do report seeing a field of red whereas others report not remembering any visual details. Most cultures associate red with aggression, passion, courage, intensity, anger and of course blood. As the color at the nearest end of the light spectrum visible to humans, red appears closer and more noticeable than any other; thus, its use on traffic signals. Interestingly bulls, like many other animals, cannot distinguish between red and green, so the bull isn't angry at seeing red, but rather at having an object waved in its face.

From Quiz Blue Moon

Answer: red

The idiom 'in the red' means to be in debt. This idiom has its roots in the practice of using red ink on balance sheets to show debts or losses. The figures are written in black when a business is doing well financially.

From Quiz Blue the Blues Away

Answer: She is between the devil and the deep blue sea.

To be between the devil and the deep blue sea is to find yourself in a situation where you have to choose between two situations that are equally unpleasant.The phrase 'between the devil and the deep blue sea' was originally phrased as 'between the devil and the deep sea'. It is believed that the devil referred to the seam between the ship's planking.

From Quiz Black is Back

Answer: blacklisted

Among those blacklisted were Paul Robeson and Paul Draper. The majority of the people accused of being Communists were not actually Communist, but the scare was so severe that people were being accused left and right. This was known as McCarthyism, and in most cases proper evidence did not exist to prove that the people being accused were Communists. For many, it totally ruined their careers. (wikipedia.com)

From Quiz Green Thumbs and Red Carpets

Answer: Talking incessantly

To talk a blue streak is to talk rapidly and incessantly. The phrase possibly arose as a reference to the speed of a bolt of lightning, which is often seen as a blue streak. Another school of thought is that it refers to turning blue through lack of oxygen when you talk so much you fail to pause for breath.

From Quiz Colour Idioms

Answer: white

White is o.k. - culturally speaking. In representations of Heaven angels and saints wear white.

From Quiz Was My Face Red!

Answer: blue

This was a hit song in the early 60s, I believe.

From Quiz The Great White Part 9: Immaculate Idioms

Answer: White knuckles

A white-knuckle ride is one that is particularly scary or exciting and in a well-designed modern roller coaster, you might well find both at the same time. The idiom's origin lies in the observable fact that people who particularly tightly clench something with their hands will notice decreased circulation - and thus pale spots of skin - at their knuckles. My recommendation is to avoid that and just let your ride restraints do their jobs - your hands should be up in the air and a little movement in the seat only adds to the excitement. Question submitted by WesleyCrusher.

From Quiz Color Me Purple Part 5: Shades in Idioms

Answer: Byzantine

"Born in (to) the purple" is the literal translation of the Latinized Greek word "porphyrogenitus". The modern English word "purple" comes from the Latin "purpura", which in turn derives from the Greek "porphyra". In the Byzantine Empire, "porphyrogenitus" was the honorific title given to a son or daughter born after their father had become emperor, and was consequently entitled to wear garments dyed with Tyrian purple, the extremely expensive dye obtained from the Murex sea snail. In modern English, this idiom is applied to children born to socially prominent parents, not necessarily royals or aristocrats. Question and additional information supplied by LadyNym.

From Quiz Seeing Red

Answer: cowardly

How did yellow get associated with cowardice? It's not an easy trace, but theories include the idea coming from medieval medicine theory of the "four humors" (blood, phlegm, black bile and yellow bile) with yellow bile being connected to whining, peevish sickness and cholera. In France, traitors' houses were marked with yellow. During the Inquisition in Spain, non-believers were forced to wear yellow. Jews who supposedly "betrayed Jesus" were branded with the medieval yellow star, a barbarous tradition adopted by the Nazis. According to a 1787 entry from Grose's "Provincial Dictionary", the term "yellow belly" was applied to people from the Fens in Lincolnshire, UK. It was mildly derogatory and probably based on their sickly pallor from living in a swampy area. On the other hand, yellow can be associated with sunshine and a light, airy, upbeat mood. In truth, the genesis of many of these color associations is obscure.

From Quiz Blue Moon

Answer: green

To get the green light is to receive a signal to begin or continue something. This phrase is linked to the green traffic light which indicates that it is safe to proceed. The phrase 'green-light' is commonly used in the film and television industries to formally approve financing and move projects from one phase to the other.

From Quiz Blue the Blues Away

Answer: blue-eyed boy

Actually, a man who is referred to as a blue-eyed boy is one who is liked or admired by someone who is in authority. A blue-eyed boy might be considered for a promotion ahead of other workers.

From Quiz The Colour of English

Answer: to show the white flag

This is to surrender. When you "show the white flag" you are surrendering or requesting a truce.

From Quiz Colour Idioms

Answer: blue

Do they feel slightly depressed??

From Quiz Was My Face Red!

Answer: green

In England they say of a gifted gardener, 'She has green fingers.' In the US they say, 'She has a green thumb.'

From Quiz The Great White Part 9: Immaculate Idioms

Answer: Surrendering

Waving a white flag came to mean surrendering during ancient Roman times. Waving a white flag would indicate that that soldier was off-limits during battle. It also indicated someone was a prisoner of war or a recently free captive. At times, it also meant that the opponent was willing to negotiate or was proposing a ceasefire. Question submitted by Joepetz.

From Quiz Seeing Red

Answer: black

A black mood, like a blue mood, could be characterized by depression, but would likely go farther to include irritability, extreme disillusionment or anger. "A black cloud hung over them all" would indicate impending doom, for example. Black is a fascinating "color", in that it arguably isn't a color at all, but is the lack of light, or how something appears when it absorbs all light and reflects none. Many associate black with negative characteristics, but there are also positive associations in idiom: "black gold" (oil); "in the black" (positive financial position); "black is beautiful" (1960s empowerment phrase); "black tie affair" (celebration).

From Quiz Blue Moon

Answer: brown

The phrase 'as brown as a berry' seem to have been around from as early as the 14th century. Chaucer used the term in his writing, 'Canterbury Tales': "His palfrey was as broune as a berry."

From Quiz Blue the Blues Away

Answer: a bolt

A bolt from the blue is an allusion to the suprise element of a bolt of lightning from the sky. This term was first used in 1837 in the book 'The French Revolution' by Thomas Carlyle.

From Quiz Pressing the Red Button

Answer: Red herring

The term is thought to have originated from an article by the journalist William Cobbett in 1807, in which he recounts using a kipper (a pickled herring, which turns a reddish-brown colour through preservation) as a means of distracting scenthounds from chasing a hare, by laying a false scent trail. In turn, the literal red herring became a metaphor for a 'false trail' of words. One popular use in detective stories is to make a certain character look like a culprit to both the readers and the characters within the story, only to reveal that they were innocent all along.

From Quiz Black is Back

Answer: blackballed

This comes from a time when to vote people were given a white ball and a black ball. To vote you put in white for support and black for oppose. Today voting is done by secret ballots, but there was a time when everyone could see you vote.

From Quiz Green Thumbs and Red Carpets

Answer: Pink

To see pink elephants is to have a drunken hallucination, although not necessarily about elephants. The first recorded use of the phrase comes in the Jack London book "John Barleycorn" published in 1913.

From Quiz Colour Idioms

Answer: blue

blue movie = very adult movie (XXX-rated)

From Quiz Was My Face Red!

Answer: white

A white lie is a supposedly well-intentioned lie that's told to spare someone's feelings.

From Quiz The Great White Part 9: Immaculate Idioms

Answer: White elephant

In Thailand (formerly Siam), rare white elephants were considered to be holy. They were not expected to work, but had to be cared for and maintained at great expense, and anyone wishing to worship them would have to be granted access to the animals. The term "white elephant" is thought to have come about because if a courtier fell out of favour, the King would present him with a white elephant as a gift. The unfortunate recipient would be forced to maintain the beast in good health and at great, often ruinous, expense. Question submitted by Windrush.

From Quiz Color Me Purple Part 5: Shades in Idioms

Answer: A perfect job candidate

First appearing in the early 2000s, the term "purple squirrel" describes the job candidate who is a perfect match for the job description--years of service, skills, education, etc. For instance, imagine the candidate who has three Master's degrees, speaks seven languages, has 25 years of experience in the industry, is under 30, and will work for minimum wage. While a perfect candidate might be able to assume multiple roles in the company and necessitate the hiring of fewer workers, a company might be wasting time/resources when involved in an excessively long search for a perfect candidate that might be as rare as a purple squirrel. Question and additional information supplied by bernie73.

From Quiz Black Sheep With Blue Blood

Answer: Blue pencil

The term used if you edit or censor something written is 'blue pencil'. The colour blue was specifically used to correct lithographic work as the pigment would not show up on any copies taken. The shade of blue used was called non-photo blue or non-repro blue and is still used today by artists, illustrators, and designers.

From Quiz Seeing Red

Answer: he was afraid

Intense events, such as something fearful or traumatic, bring on emotional reactions and physiological changes in the body. In this case with fear, normal breathing would be temporarily suspended, muscles would momentarily tighten or "freeze" and blood would drain from the face, causing it to literally turn white(er). This would be followed with a rush of adrenaline as the "fight or flight" instinct kicks in, and hopefully you would get into action.

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