THE FLATMATES

Language point:
Colours
BBC Learning English The Flatmates

The Flatmates Colours

You can see this language point online at:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/flatmates/episode158/languagepoint.shtml

Here is some vocabulary, idioms and sayings about colours.

Red:
red tape
official rules and processes that seem unnecessary and often take a long time to
complete
There's so much red tape involved in getting a visa. I can't believe they can't make
it easier for us tourists.

be on red alert
be ready to deal with a sudden dangerous situation
The army has been on red alert since the first bomb exploded.

the red carpet

a long, red floor covering that is put down for an important guest to walk on when
they visit somewhere
The film stars are all out tonight on the red carpet for the Oscar ceremony.

Black:
a black box
a small machine that records information about a plane during its flight, and which
is used to find out the cause of an accident
The aircraft's black box has been found and will be analysed by experts.

a black market
illegal trading of goods that are not allowed to be bought and sold, or that there are
not enough of for everyone who wants them
The tax on cigarettes is so high now that lots of people buy them on the black
market.

black mark (informal, usually singular)

something you have done wrong or failed to do that affects how people think of you
If I don't hand my homework in on time, it will be another black mark against me.

Yellow:
yellow
not brave, cowardly
She's so yellow she wouldn't even look at the spider, let alone touch it.

a yellow card
a card shown to a player by the referee for a serious foul in a football match.
The ref gave her a yellow card for kicking another player.

The Flatmates BBC Learning English

Page 2 of 3
http://www.bbclearningenglish.com/
BBC Learning English The Flatmates

Green:
a green card
a document that allows a foreigner to live and work in the United States
Although she's British, she's got a green card and can work in New York.

a green room
a room in, for example, a theatre or TV building where performers or guests can
relax before and after their appearance on stage or on TV
After the show, the stars will relax with food and drink in the green room.

give the green light to something

give permission for someone to do something or for something to happen
We got given the green light for the project to start next month.

Vocabulary:
vibrant
bright and strong

a symbol
a sign, shape (or, a colour) which is used to represent something else

practically
almost all

tiles
thin, usually square or rectangular piece of baked clay, plastic, or metal used for
covering roofs

associated
connected

Would you like to try an online quiz about this language point? Go to:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/flatmates/episode158/quiz.shtml

Or you can download the quiz from:

http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/flatmates/episode158/fm_quiz_080812.pdf

For more information about this language point go to:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/flatmates/episode99/languagepoint.shtml

The Flatmates BBC Learning English

Page 3 of 3
http://www.bbclearningenglish.com/