The color green often symbolizes growth, freshness, and vitality. It’s not surprising, then, that many idioms in the English language incorporate the word “green” to convey various meanings, from naivety to environmental awareness. In this blog post, we explore 20 common green idioms, offering clear and concise explanations along with straightforward examples to help you understand and use them effectively in everyday conversations.
Idioms Using the Word Green
1. Green thumb
Meaning: Skill in gardening.
Example: He’s got a green thumb, his backyard is full of beautiful plants.
2. Green with envy
Meaning: Very jealous.
Example: She was green with envy when she saw my new car.
3. Give the green light
Meaning: To approve or permit something.
Example: The manager gave the green light to start the new project.
4. Green around the gills
Meaning: Looking sick.
Example: After the boat trip, Mark looked green around the gills.
5. Green field
Meaning: Undeveloped or untouched land for development.
Example: They are building the new factory on a green field site.
6. Greenhorn
Meaning: Someone who is new and inexperienced.
Example: He’s a greenhorn, just learning the ropes.
7. Green-eyed monster
Meaning: A metaphor for jealousy.
Example: Don’t let the green-eyed monster ruin your friendship.
8. Green belt
Meaning: An area of open land around a city, preserved from heavy development.
Example: The city’s green belt is perfect for weekend hikes.
9. Green room
Meaning: A lounge or waiting room at a theater or studio.
Example: The actors waited in the green room before going on stage.
10. Green shoots
Meaning: Signs of economic recovery.
Example: We are finally seeing green shoots in the economy.
11. Green energy
Meaning: Energy from natural, renewable sources.
Example: Our company is investing more in green energy now.
12. Green revolution
Meaning: A large increase in crop production.
Example: The green revolution changed agriculture in the 1960s.
13. To have a green light
Meaning: To have permission to proceed with a project.
Example: We finally have a green light to start development.
14. Green papers
Meaning: Preliminary reports of government proposals.
Example: The committee reviewed the green papers before the meeting.
15. Green politics
Meaning: Political policies that emphasize environmental issues.
Example: She advocates for green politics.
16. Go green
Meaning: To make environmentally friendly choices.
Example: Our office is trying to go green by reducing paper use.
17. Greenbacks
Meaning: Slang for U.S. paper currency.
Example: I need some greenbacks for the vending machine.
18. To turn green
Meaning: To look or feel sick.
Example: He turned green after eating spoiled food.
19. Wear the green willow
Meaning: To show signs of being abandoned by a lover.
Example: She wore the green willow after the breakup.
20. Green collar
Meaning: Jobs connected with environmental conservation.
Example: He’s proud of his green collar job at the recycling plant.
