Idioms containing BLACK
TOP words in categories
BLACK AND BLUE
discolored from a bruise; injured in a fight either physically or verbally
1. The girl fell out of the tree but didn’t break any bones. She just had a black and blue knee.
2. James came out of the meeting black and blue, since he had made so many mistakes preparing the report without consulting his boss.
2. James came out of the meeting black and blue, since he had made so many mistakes preparing the report without consulting his boss.
BLACK MARKET
a system of buying and selling illegal goods or goods at illegal prices or quantities
1. During the war each household was allotted a small amount of sugar and butter each month. If you wanted more, you had to buy it on the black market.
2. There is a growing black market for consumer goods that are difficult or impossible to find here.
2. There is a growing black market for consumer goods that are difficult or impossible to find here.
BLACK OUT
to lose consciousness temporarily
1. After my operation, the doctor told me not to drive for a few months because I might black out and have an accident.
2. Tom was walking down the street in the hot sun. He became dizzy and then blacked out.
2. Tom was walking down the street in the hot sun. He became dizzy and then blacked out.
BLACK SHEEP
an outcast; a person who is regarded as a disgrace or failure by his/her family or peer group
1. I haven’t seen my uncle since I was a child, because he isn’t in contact with my parents. He’s the black sheep of the family.
2. All the girls in that family except Mary grew up to become respected members of the community. She was the black sheep of the family.
2. All the girls in that family except Mary grew up to become respected members of the community. She was the black sheep of the family.
BLACK TIE
formal dress in which men wear black bow ties and dinner jackets or tuxedos and women wear formal, usually floor-length dresses
1. The dinner was black-tie, so all the men wore black bow ties and dinner jackets.
2. The film star’s wedding was black-tie. It was a glamorous affair that I’ll never forget. The expression originates from the black bow tie that is part of men’s formal dress.
2. The film star’s wedding was black-tie. It was a glamorous affair that I’ll never forget. The expression originates from the black bow tie that is part of men’s formal dress.
IN BLACK AND WHITE
in print or in writing
1. You can’t agree to buy or sell a house with just a handshake. The agreement has to be in black and white.
2. I didn’t believe what you were telling me was true, but here it is in the newspaper in black and white.
2. I didn’t believe what you were telling me was true, but here it is in the newspaper in black and white.
IN THE BLACK
making a profit
1. The company lost money the first four years but now it’s making money and is finally in the black.
2. The government hasn’t been in the black for the last 20 years. It has been spending more money than it brings in through taxes.
2. The government hasn’t been in the black for the last 20 years. It has been spending more money than it brings in through taxes.
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