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Vocabulary: colours (2)

"REAL" COLOURS...

Blue, red and yellow are "primary colours" that can be mixed (thus giving secondary colours). If you insist on one colour or on another one, you'll get different hues that can be more or less bright... and more or less pleasant to look at.

A) BLUE: (BLUE + YELLOW= GREEN)/ (BLUE + RED= VIOLET)

To turn blue	To turn green
To turn yellow	To turn brown

* Vocabulary and Idioms:

out of the blue...	once in a blue moon...
I'm feeling blue...	to be black and blue
to have to choose between the devil and the deep blue sea...	to have blue blood
to be blue in the face	a blue ribbon
a blue steak= uncooked	a blue collar worker

She's feeling blue A blue ribbon

To be blue in the face

In politics:

- To be blue (United Kingdom) = in the Conservative party

- the blue States (USA) = held by Democrats

- the Blues = soldiers belonging to the Union (North) during the Civil War.

B) RED: (RED + YELLOW= ORANGE)/ (RED + BLUE= VIOLET)

To redden	to blush/ go red
To go pink	to grow/ turn pink
ginger	red/ auburn

To be in the red A red carpet

To be caught red-handed

* Vocabulary and Idioms:

To turn beet-red	blood-red
To catch red-handed	To be in the red
To be like a red rag/ like a bull	a red card
Crimson	scarlet
Purple/ violet	mauve
A red-carpet treatment	red cells
A red-letter day	Little Red Riding Hood
A red-eye flight	Code red
To see red	a redneck

C) YELLOW: (YELLOW + BLUE= GREEN) (YELLOW + RED= ORANGE)

Light yellow/ pale yellow	Dark green
Canary yellow	Lemon yellow

* Some necessary vocabulary to be able to speak about "colours"...

Deep + colour	olive-green
Bright/ vivid + colour	strong colour
Dull	plain
Colourless	gaudy/ garish/ loud
Drab	speckled
To match	= to go with
To clash	to colour
Colouring	a shade
A tint/ a hue	pigment
To dye ['dai ]	a dye
To run	to fade
Faded	bleach
To bleach	yellowish

*** the suffix -ish ; greenish; reddish...

* A few words of extra vocabulary and idioms:

To highlight in yellow	The yellow press
To be yellow bellied	=> to be cowardly
Code Y= code yellow= urinary	"accidents" in hospitals or schools

"SECONDARY" COLOURS, are created by mixing primary colours. They can also be enriched by mixing them too:

BLUE+ GREEN= TURQUOISE BLUE+ VIOLET= INDIGO RED+ VIOLET= PURPLE RED+ ORANGE= VERMILION

Yes, you're right, there are many, many words and expressions using colours. I'm sure you'll use them and "mix them" pleasantly... I give you the FORCE.

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1. Tired of asking Lily to pick up her clothes and toys, Lily’s mum got so and screamed, that the little girl finally obeyed.

2. Last night, Jack took the from L.A to Chicago so that he could be at his meeting at 9 o’clock sharp...

3. Look at ' MisterSmart '! He’s really a splendid dog and has just won the at the Valley Canine Society.

4. During the soccer match, the referee gave a to the violent player and even granted a penalty which ended in a splendid goal....

5. 'You didn’t your jeans on purpose, did you, Lucy? They were new!'

6. His grandfathers were workers; his father was a technician, and he’s an engineer... That’s great social mobility....

7. The day when I met Sara is a for both of us and we celebrate it every year...

8. There are so many bargains that I can’t help buying and buying. I’ll be again and will have problems with my boyfriend...

9. I should wash those two shirts separately, shouldn’t I? Otherwise, the red colour will and my new white one.

10. ' Yes, I like this dress, but I’d prefer a lighter of blue, please. 'You're right... It will suit her better, and will the colour of her eyes.'


  The seven colours of the rainbow...
red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet.

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