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    Learn English > English lessons and exercises > English test #120132: Vocabulary: black and/ or white? (1)
    > Other English exercises on the same topic: Colours/Colors [Change theme]
    > Similar tests: - Colours - Colours and pictures - Colors: idioms II - Vocabulary: colours (2) - Colours - Vocabulary: gems and silver - Idioms and colours - Vocabulary: flowers... everywhere!
    > Double-click on words you don't understand


    Vocabulary: black and/ or white? (1)


     

    Not long ago, I felt like writing a lesson about colours, adding, of course the idioms which are linked to them. I've found a lot and decided I would do TWO lessons: this first part will deal with "non-colours": WHITE and BLACK. Then, in lesson test, we'll deal with "Primary Colours" and the matching vocabulary and idioms. 

     

                                                       

    COLOURS : an introduction to colours isn't an easy task... because there are several points of view to consider... You may either deal with the "colours of light" or with the "colours of pigments".

    If you're trying to go further, you'll hear about "additive primaries" and about "subtractive primaries". The following links will tell you more about colours, if you feel like it.  

    https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-the-primary-colors-of-light-and-the-primary-colors

    http://www.funtrivia.com/askft/Question68124.html

    https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_color

    Remember: Primary colours can't be created when mixing other colours. 

    In light, BLACK is the absence of colour, and WHITE is the presence of all colours. To scientists, WHITE is a bunch of colours, and BLACK is not.)

      colour= :pgb // color= :pus //

    // grey=  :pgb // gray= :pus

     

     The primary colours  The spectrum 
     What colour is it?  Coloured/ colourful  
     Multicoloured  A splash of colour  
     The colour wheel To be colour-blind
     White=> to whiten  Grey (BE)/ gray (AE)  * 
     Snow-white  To turn white/ go grey   
     Silver grey Dove grey
     Pearl grey Ash grey 
     A grey area  Greywater tank // rainwater tank 
     Grey cells  Greyhound
     Black=> to blacken     Jet/ inky black

     

    "When all the colours are combined, it makes white."

    "Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet: if you were to take these colours on a wheel and spin the wheel, you would see white."



                                           

                      White                                                      Shades of grey                                                    Black

                    To whiten                                         To grey/ turn grey/ go grey                                       To blacken

    (GREY is an intermediate colour between black and white. It is a neutral or achromatic colour, meaning literally that it is a colour "without colour.")

    * Vocabulary and idioms:

    - a white lie= an unimportant lie...

    - as white as a ghost= very white or pale

    - a white flag= surrendering!

    - a "white elephant"= Dirty Santa (offering and swapping cheap Xmas gifts)

                                                    

         Christmas White Elephant                                  White as a ghost                                         A white flag: admitting defeat

     

    - a grey area= an undefined area where things are difficult

    - the grey dollar= The purchasing power of former baby-boomers

    - to play in the grey= on the verge of illegality

                                                                   

                                                   a greyhound race                                                        a grey area

     

    - the black sheep = someone different in the herd

    - a black eye= result of a blow, a bruise

    - a black tie event= a formal meeting

    - as black as coal= very black

    - black market= illegal buying or selling of goods...

     

                                             

          Getting a black eye                                             Black as coal                                                  A black sheep

     

    Come on, now!   I have tried to be as simple as possible,  (giving those who are craving for chromatic studies the possibilitiy to start them, or not!  ) In any case, you're now ready to face the test. Then, you'll have a right to go and see "real Colours"! (The lesson is much easier)   THE FORCE is with you! 

     

     



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    1. Tim and Tom were throwing balls at each other. They did well and even so well that Tom ended up with a wonderful ... Boys will be boys...

    2. 'Our grandparents are Babyboomers, they’ve worked their whole life and want us to take advantage of their ... I think they’re still quite ' green ', all of them, I mean...'

    3. At the end of the battle, the beaten soldiers waved a and surrendered.

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    5. ' For Xmas, this year, the family have decided to organise ' a ' gift exchange. It’s quite funny... '

    6. Many people are fighting against in the US. These people find the practice so crual that it’s now illegal in 40 states.

    7. The more he listened to what the doctor was saying, the paler he was becoming and he that he turned as .

    8. On Lucy’s painting were bright and the little girl was quite proud of her masterpiece...

    9. In Agatha Christie's novels, Hercule Poirot solved some very puzzling crimes using only his ' ', his cap and a magnifying glass...

     

        








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