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Color Idioms Practice Test (A2-B2) — Vocabulary Exercises with Answers

20questions
10:00minutes
+22XP on pass

Preparing for an English exam? Practise Color Idioms with 20 exercises at Level A2-B2. The questions test meaning, collocation, and word choice — the core vocabulary skills examined in IELTS, TOEFL, and Cambridge tests.

Browse all Color Idioms lessons

⏱ You have 10:00 to answer 20 questions. The timer only starts when you click Begin.

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Questions 20
Q1  20
Q1 20

Question 1: I'm feeling ___. I don't want to do anything today.

Question 1 options
'Blue' is correct because 'feeling blue' is a common idiom meaning feeling sad or depressed. 'Red' relates to anger, 'green' relates to envy or inexperience, and 'yellow' relates to cowardice — none of these fit the context of not wanting to do anything.
Q2 20

Question 2: She was ___ with envy when she saw her friend's new car.

Question 2 options
'Green' is correct because 'green with envy' is a fixed idiom meaning very jealous. 'Blue' relates to sadness, 'red' to anger, and 'white' to fear or shock.
Q3 20

Question 3: What does the idiom 'to see red' mean?

Question 3 options
'To see red' means to become very angry. It does not mean to feel embarrassed, to feel sad, or to be scared.
Q4 20

Question 4: The idiom 'tickled pink' means someone is very pleased or delighted.

Question 4 options
True. 'Tickled pink' is a well-known idiom meaning extremely happy or pleased about something. The word 'pink' here suggests a warm, joyful flush of color.
Q5 20

Question 5: He told a ___ lie to avoid getting in trouble.

Question 5 options
'White' is correct because a 'white lie' is a harmless or small lie told to avoid hurting someone's feelings. 'Black lie,' 'grey lie,' and 'blue lie' are not standard English idioms.
Q6 20

Question 6: The news came out of the ___. Nobody expected it at all.

Question 6 options
'Blue' completes the idiom 'out of the blue,' meaning something unexpected or without warning.
Q7 20

Question 7: After losing all his money, he was in the ___.

Question 7 options
'Red' is correct because 'in the red' means in debt or losing money. 'In the black' means profitable, 'in the blue' and 'in the green' are not standard financial idioms.
Q8 20

Question 8: What does the idiom 'golden opportunity' mean?

Question 8 options
'Golden opportunity' means a very good chance that may not come again. It does not refer to something expensive, a risky investment, or a routine event.
Q9 20

Question 9: Match each color idiom to its meaning.

Question 9 options
black sheep
red tape
silver lining
grey area
the odd or disreputable member of a group
something unclear or uncertain
a positive aspect in a bad situation
excessive rules and bureaucracy

Select an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.

'Black sheep' means the odd or disreputable member of a group. 'Red tape' means excessive bureaucracy. 'Silver lining' means a positive aspect in a bad situation. 'Grey area' means something unclear or uncertain.
Q10 20

Question 10: The boss gave us the ___ light to start the new project.

Question 10 options
'Green' is correct because 'green light' means permission or approval to proceed. 'Red light' means to stop, and 'yellow light' suggests caution. 'Blue light' is not a standard idiom for permission.
Q11 20

Question 11: Which word is closest in meaning to 'golden' in the phrase 'golden rule'?

Question 11 options
'Fundamental' is closest in meaning because a 'golden rule' refers to the most important or essential principle. 'Expensive' relates to cost, 'shiny' is literal, and 'ancient' relates to age — none capture the idiomatic sense.
Q12 20

Question 12: The company's accounts are finally in the ___. They are making a profit.

Question 12 options
'Black' is correct because 'in the black' means profitable or financially positive. 'In the red' means in debt, 'in the white' and 'in the green' are not standard financial idioms.
Q13 20

Question 13: The expression 'yellow-bellied' means someone who is very brave and courageous.

Question 13 options
False. 'Yellow-bellied' actually means cowardly. It is the opposite of brave. Yellow has long been associated with cowardice in English idioms.
Q14 20

Question 14: She was caught ___ -handed stealing from the shop.

Question 14 options
'Red' is correct because 'caught red-handed' means caught in the act of doing something wrong. 'Black-handed,' 'white-handed,' and 'green-handed' are not established English idioms.
Q15 20

Question 15: He has a ___ thumb and grows beautiful flowers in his garden.

Question 15 options
'Green' is correct because 'green thumb' means a natural talent for gardening and growing plants. 'Black thumb,' 'golden thumb,' and 'brown thumb' do not carry this positive idiomatic meaning in standard English.
Q16 20

Question 16: What does the idiom 'once in a blue moon' mean?

Question 16 options
'Once in a blue moon' means something that happens very rarely. It does not mean at night, during sadness, or during a full moon.
Q17 20

Question 17: The manager rolled out the ___ carpet for the visiting dignitaries.

Question 17 options
'Red' is correct because 'roll out the red carpet' means to give someone a grand, special welcome. 'Blue carpet,' 'gold carpet,' and 'white carpet' are not established idioms for a lavish reception.
Q18 20

Question 18: In the idiom 'a black mark against someone,' what does 'black mark' signify?

Question 18 options
'A black mark' signifies something negative on someone's record or reputation. It does not mean a secret achievement, a physical bruise, or a sign of wealth.
Q19 20

Question 19: The politician tried to ___ -wash the scandal by releasing misleading information to the press.

Question 19 options
'White' is correct because 'whitewash' means to deliberately conceal unpleasant facts or cover up wrongdoing. 'Blackwash,' 'greenwash' (which refers specifically to environmental claims), and 'bluewash' do not fit this context of covering up a scandal.
Q20 20

Question 20: Which sentence correctly uses a color idiom to describe an inexperienced person?

Question 20 options
'He's still green — he only started working here last week' is correct because 'green' idiomatically means inexperienced or new. 'Red' relates to anger or embarrassment, 'blue' to sadness, and 'golden' to excellence — none mean inexperienced.

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