Lesson
There are lots of idiomatic expressions, below is a sample of an idiom using color specifically the white color. First shown is the idiom followed by its meaning then an example sentence.
as white as a ghost
- very pale because of fear/shock/illness
My sister became as white as a ghost when she saw the man at the window.as white as a sheet
- very pale
I felt terrible this morning and in the mirror I looked as white as a sheet.as white as the driven snow
- very white
The fur on the dog was as white as the driven snow.black and white
- either good or bad, either one way or the other way but not in between
Our boss sees everything in black and white although he knows this is impossible.carte blanche
- the freedom or permission to do what you want (blanche/blanc means white in French)
The new manager was given carte blanche to change the policies in her department.in black and white
- in writing, officially
I put down my complaint in black and white.put (something) down in black and white
- to write the details of a contract or something on paper
I asked the buyer to put the offer to buy my car down in black and white.raise/wave a white flag
- to indicate that you have been defeated and you want to give up
The soldiers raised a white flag and gave themselves up to the enemy.white elephant
- a useless possession (that often costs money to maintain)
The new airport is a white elephant and nobody wants to use it.white lie
- a harmless or small lie told to be polite or to avoid hurting someone's feelings
I told my supervisor a white lie yesterday and said that I was sick when actually I was not.white sale
- the selling of towels or sheets at a reduced price
We went to the white sale at the department store to buy some new sheets.white-tie event/affair
- an event that requires guests to wear formal dress such as men wearing white bow ties with formal evening dress
I attended a white-tie dinner in honor of the president of our university.whitewash (something)
- to cover up or gloss over faults/errors/wrongdoing
The government was accused of trying to whitewash the scandal about the illegal money.
