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Follow me through a rainbow of colours with this selection of common French expressions using colours! While some expressions have an obvious origin (usually a comparison to something that is of the same colour), I will help you understand some less obvious origins of expressions, which will also give you a cultural insight!
Do you know other French expressions using colours? Add them in the comment section of the episode!
Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode
Dire les choses de but en blanc = directly, without beating around the bush
Etre blanc comme un linge
Etre blanc comme un cachet d’aspirine
Montrer patte blanche = to identify yourself, show your credentials
La patte = the leg (of an animal)
Donner carte blanche à quelqu’un = to give sb full permission, free rein
faire grise mine = to look sad
voir rouge
Etre rouge comme une tomate / comme une pivoine
Etre un vrai cordon bleu = to be a masterchef, a whizz in the kitchen
avoir une peur bleue
être vert de rage
Etre vert de peur
avoir la main verte / avoir les pouces verts
se mettre au vert = to retire/take a break in the countryside
rire jaune
voir la vie en rose
voir tout en noir
travailler au noir = to work off the books, illicitly
avoir un œil au beurre noir = to have a black eye
Etre la bête noire de quelqu’un = to be someone’s pet hate
LINKS and RESOURCES
Origin of expressions : http://www.linternaute.com/expression
Fable : « “Le loup, la chèvre et le chevreau » (Jean de La Fontaine) : https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Loup,_la_Ch%C3%A8vre_et_le_Chevreau
Song: “La vie en rose” (Edith Piaf)
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