Termenii cromatici în expresiile idiomatice englezești

În continuare vom prezenta și descifra unele dintre cele mai folosite și întâlnite expresii
idiomatice englezești în care se regăsesc termenii cromatici. Astfel putem observa tendința de a
folosi culorile în diferite scopuri de a descrie aspectul fizic, de a desemna unele acțiuni sau moduri
în care se realizează, cât și descrierea sau caracterizarea unor procese, etc.
În primul rând ținem să menționăm că termenii cromatici studiați și urmăriți în cercetarea
noastră, mai exact cele 6 culori principale ale paletei culori se regăsesc în mare măsură în expresiile
englezești .
Negrul deține cele mai multe expresii, urmat fiind de roșu, apoi albastru și verde. Alb se
întîlnește într-un număr mai mic în expresii și locuțiuni. Galben este și el prezent însă doar în
câteva expresii , fiind cel din urmă termen cromatic în această investigație.
Mai jos am expus exemplele cele mai elocvente ce conțin termenii cromatici dar am oferit și
o mică explicație a expresiei, iar pentru unii am găsit și un echivalent în limba română pentru
același concept sau situație.
BLACK IDIOMS
1. Black and white – negru și alb
To take everything into consideration and oversimplify something. To judge everything as
either one way or the other, good or bad. – A judeca totul doar în două moduri, bun sau rău,
fără alte opțiuni

Our boss always thinks that everything is straightforward, but he doesn’t realise that this
whole situation is not as black and white as he thinks!

2. Put something down in black and white – a fi scris negru pe alb

To write or have something written down on paper for confirmation or evidence - nu poate
fi contestat, indiscutabil, clar;

I don’t understand why you don’t believe me! Look, it’s written here in black and white!

3. Black as night – negru ca noaptea

Somewhere very dark, when it is hard to see anything – Ceva foarte negru, întuneric,
unde este dificil de a vedea ceva

We had another power cut last night; it was as black as night in our house. We didn’t even
have any candles!
 4. Black and blue – învinețit
Used to describe something that is badly bruised - se folosește pentru a descrie pe cineva
ce are vânătăi

John’s face was black and blue  after the boxing match.

5. Black eye – ochi negru

A bruise near one’s eye – ochi negru de la vânătăi

Fred came home with a horrible black eye today, but he won’t tell us what happened!

6. Black out – a leșina

This means to, either darken by putting out or dimming the lights, or to lose consciousness.
– atunci când cineva își pierde cunoștința, a leșina

We had a huge black out  here last night, the whole town was out of power for about 7 hours!

I don’t know what happened to him, he just blacked out! Maybe he banged his head.

7. Black as a skillet – a fi negru ca o tigaie

Used to describe something that is very dirty, black with dirt – se folosește pentru a descrie
ceva sau pe cineva foarte murdar, negru

My hands and clothes were as  black as a skillet, and I was only halfway through cleaning your
garage!

8. Black market – piața neagră

A term used for places where goods are illegally bought and sold for a profit. – se utilizează
pentru locurile ce vând și cumpără bunuri ilegal

Jerry used to sell cigarettes from South America on the black market!

9. Blackball someone – a da o bilă neagră cuiva

To exclude or ostracise someone socially, reject them – a respinde sau exclude pe cineva

Their company has been blackballed ever since that scandal was all over the newspapers. No one
wants to do business with them anymore.

10. Blacklist someone – a pune pe cineva în lista neagră

To write someone’s name on a list if they break any rules, and ban them from having the
opportunity to take part again – a scrie pe cineva în lista neagră (lista care interezice a folosi sau
face anumite lucruri )
“I was in a lot of debt a while ago, and was unable to pay it all back, so I’ve been  blacklisted. I’m
not allowed to get a mortgage in my own name.

11. Blackmail someone – a constrânge pe cineva

To extort or take money from someone by using their secrets against them and threatening
to reveal it to others – a șantaja sau intimida pe cineva folosind secretele sale sau anumite
compromate

He has been blackmailing me for months with some photos that I didn’t know he had. I need
someone to help me stop him!

12. In someone’s black books – a fi în cărțile negre ale cuiva

To be in disgrace or in disfavour with someone – a nu fi pe placul unei persoane, a fi în
dizgrația cuiva

After that argument yesterday, I assure you he will be in a lot of people’s black books for quite
some time!

13. Black tie event/affair – eveniment la care se poartă cravată neagră

A formal event where male guests wear black bow ties with tuxedos or dinner jackets –
eveniment sau întâlnire de afaceri la care dress code-ul presupune gravată neagră și costum

The award’s ceremony will be a black tie event, so I’ll have to buy a smart suit. My wife is going to
wear her purple ball gown.

14. Black sheep – a fi oaia neagră

Used to describe a person who is the ‘odd one out’ of a group, and doesn’t fit in with others
around them. This could also be used to talk about someone who is a disgrace or
embarrassment to their group. – a fi oaia neagră într-un grup sau cerc, a fi diferit de ceilalți
și a nu fi pe placul acestora

I have always been the black sheep in my family, I have a completely different personality to all of
them, and we don’t even look the same!

RED IDIOMS

1. To be shown the red card – a-i fi arătat cartonașul roșu

This derives from football terminology, and means to be dismissed from your job – este o
presie din fotbal și semnifică a fi descalificat

The company Accountant  was shown the red card, after they found out he was using company
money for personal gain.
 2. To be in the red – îndatorat, dator
To have an overdraft, be in debt to your bank, or owe an institution some money – a avea
datorii la bancă

I’ve got three credit card bills to pay off at the moment. I hate being in the red!

3. To be out of the red – a scăpa de datorii

To be out of debt – a scăpa de datorii

Our company is finally out of the red now. We’ve managed to pay back our loan, and now we’re
making profit!

4. A red flag – drapelul roșu

A signal that something is not working properly or correctly – semnal de alarmă, indiciu

The fallen trees along the road raised a red flag for the safety inspectors.

5. Blood red – culoarea sângelui

Used to describe the deep red colour of something – a folosi culoare roșie a sângelui pentur
a descrie ceva sau pe cineva

She was wearing a beautiful cocktail dress with blood red lipstick to match.

6. Beet red – de culoarea sfeclei

Also used to describe dark red, usually the colour of a face (derives from beetroot) – a
descrie roșu, culoarea sfeclei

I could see my son up on the stage, his little face was  beet red!

7. Red herring - diversiune

An unimportant matter that misleads everyone and draws attention away from the main
subject – pistă falsă, a crea o diversiune pentru a distrage atenția cuiva

Unfortunately that witness was just a red herring. She had no justification to her story, and it was
a waste of valuable time.

8. Catch someone red-handed – a prinde pe cineva cu mâni roșii

To catch someone in the act of committing a crime, or doing something wrong that they
shouldn’t be doing – a prinde pe cineva în flagrant, a prinde pe cineva la o crimă
He kept lying to me about where he was going in the evenings, so yesterday I followed him
and caught him red-handed. He was with another woman!

9. Red in the face - a se face roșu pe față

To become embarrassed – a se rușina, jena

I went  red in the face when the teacher told me off in front of everyone for arriving late!

10. Red-eye – zbor de noapte

A journey that leaves late at night and arrives early in the morning – o călătorie ce include zbor de
noapte

We had to catch the red-eye flight last night, and I’m completely exhausted now.

11. Red-letter day – zi de sărbătoare

A day that is memorable because of some important event – o zi importantă, un eveniment, o
sărbătoare

The day I graduated was a red-letter day for my mum, she still talks about it today!

12. To see red – a vedea roșu în fața ochilor

To react with uncontrollable rage against someone or something – a fi foarte supărat, furios

John  saw red when he heard someone shouting at his mother.

13. Paint the town red – a se distra, a se face de cap

To go out and have a really good time at a party – a se distra

I’ve managed to get a babysitter for this weekend. Let’s go and  paint the town red!

BLUE IDIOMS

1. Out of the blue – din senin, dintr-o dată

To appear out of nowhere without any warning, to happen quite suddenly or randomly by
surprise – a se întâmpla ceva brusc, neplanificat, din senin

You won’t believe it but Sarah called me out of the blue yesterday, and told me she’s coming to
visit! How unexpected!

Greg has decided to quit his job  out of the blue, and go travelling for a year!
 2. Blue pencil - a schimba, cenzura sau limita informația
To censor something, or limit the information that is shared – a edita sau modifica
informația ce este distribuită publicului

The reports about how soldiers were being treated abroad had been  blue-pencilled by the
authorities.

3. A blue-eyed boy – a fi favorizat de cineva

A critical description of a boy or young man who is always picked for special favours by
someone in a position of higher authority. – a fi cu ochi albaștri, a fi favorizat de către
cineva pentru obținerea unui anumit lucru, funcție, etc.

He is such a blue-eyed boy! I don’t like that the manager always treats him as if he is special, it
is not fair on the rest of us!

4. A bolt from the blue – lucru neașteptat, trăsnet

When some unexpected bad news is received - ceva neașteptat, ceva ce aduce deseori
consecințe, o veste rea

It was a complete bolt from the blue for us, we had no idea that they were having problems, let
alone getting divorced!

5. Blue blood – sânge albastru

Used to describe someone from a noble, aristocratic or wealthy family – se utilizează pentru
a descrie familiile nobile, aristocratice, oamenii bogați

Many of the blue bloods in our town were invited to the royal wedding.

6. Blue ribbon – a obține panglica albastră

To be of superior quality or distinction, the best of a group – a fi superior, a se evidenția
prin anumite distincții, a fi cel mai bun dintr-un grup

A  blue ribbon panel of experts were invited to investigate the extraordinary remains.

7. Talk a blue streak – a vorbi ca o moară stricată

When someone talks very much and very rapidly – a vorbi repede și foarte mult

The woman in the hospital bed next to me talked a blue streak all day. I don’t where she got the
energy from!

8. Feel blue – a fi deprimat

When someone looks or feels depressed or discontented – a fi trist sau deprimat
What’s that the matter with you today? You seem really blue. Is there something you’d like to talk
about?

9. Blue in the face – a fi albastru la față

To try really hard to win someone’s agreement, but usually end unsuccessfully – a încerca
să câștigi o dezbatere sau o ceartă, dar de obicei fără succes, până devii albastru la față

I kept trying to convince him that it was a good idea until I was blue in the face, but he’s so
stubborn, he just kept disagreeing with me!

10. Once in a blue moon – la paștele cailor

To occur extremely rarely, or only once in a lifetime – la paștele cailor, la sfântu’ așteaptă,
ceva care se întâmplă foarte rar sau niciodată

My sister is working in Africa, she hardly ever has the time to call us. My parents only hear from
her once in a blue moon.

11. Men/boys in blue – bărbați în albastru

Used to describe the police, because of the colour of their uniforms – se folosește pentru a
descrie culoarea uniformei, albastre, mai ales polițiștii

I saw the boys in blue outside our neighbour’s house last night. I hope everything is okay.

12. Blue collar – simplu muncitor

Used to describe men used as labourers, or factory workers – muncitori simpli, de rând

The got rid of a lot of the blue-collar workers during the recession. I would say they definitely
suffered the most.

GREEN IDIOMS

1. To be green – a fi verde, a fi tânăr

Used to describe someone who is immature, or inexperienced – a fi încă necopt, verde,
imatur

He can be rather green sometimes. I don’t think he’s ready to be promoted to a higher position yet.

2. Green with envy – a fi verde de invidie

Used to describe someone who is extremely jealous, full of envy – a fi gelos, plind de
invidie
When we were children, my older brother always used to get green with envy if my dad bought
something for me and not for him.

3. Give someone the green light / get the green light – a-i da cuiva sau a obține undă
verde
When someone receives, or is given, permission to go ahead with something – a obține sau
a primi permisiunea de a merge undeva sau a face ceva

We have been given the green the light by the Marketing Executive to go ahead with the new
advertising campaign.

4. Grass is always greener on the other side – iarba e mereu mai verde în curtea
vecinului

Used to describe a place that is far away, and better than, where you are now, or another person’s
situation that is very different from your own – a vrea mereu ce au alții, a crede că anumite lucruri
sunt mai bune decât ale noastre

He realised that the grass is always greener on the other side when he saw that his new job wasn’t
perfect, and had its own problems too.

5. Green belt – zonă verde

An area of fields and trees around a town – zonă verde

Our city has a policy of increasing the green belt around it.

6. Green thumb/green finger – a avea degetul verde

Used to describe someone with a talent for gardening, having the ability to make plants grow – se
folosește pentru a descrie o persoană ce are talent la grădinărit

This garden used to look so beautiful when my mum lived here. She definitely had a  green thumb. I
wish I did too!

WHITE IDIOMS

1. As white as a sheet – alba ca hârtia

When someone is in a state of great fear or anxiety – a fi alb de frică

Harold are you alright? You’re as white as a sheet, what’s the matter?
 2. Raise a white flag – a ridica steagul alb
This indicates that one has accepted defeat and surrenders to the other party – semn al
predării și împăcării

There was such a heated debate going on in the conference room, they wouldn’t back down! I just
raised my white flag in the end.

3. White elephant – elefant alb

A term used for a useless possession, something that is of no use- termen folosit pentru ceva
inutil, ceva de care nu ai nevoie

My mum bought a new CD player for me, but it’s a white elephant. I don’t need it, I don’t even
have any CDs!

4. White as a ghost – alb ca o fantomă, alb ca varul

Used to describe someone who is very pale because of pain, fear, shock or illness – alb ca varul de
frică, spaimă

I didn’t think the movie was that scary, but my sister was  as white as a ghost!

5. A white lie – o minciună albă

A ‘little’ or ‘harmless’ lie told in order to be polite and avoid hurting someone’s feelings, or do
something that is not seriously wrong- o minciună nevinovată, ce are intenții bune

I just wanted to get out of work so I told my boss a little white lie, and said I had a doctor’s
appointment.

6. White collar - funcționar

A term used for office workers that traditionally wear white shirts with a collar. – lucrător în birou

We have a lot of vacancies for white-collar workers at the moment, but hardly anyone is applying
for them!

YELLOW IDIOMS

1. Yellow-bellied – a fi cu burta galbenă

Someone who is seen as a coward or extremely timid – o persoană lașă sau foarte timidă

There is no point in asking him what to do. He is a yellow-bellied coward, and won’t stand up for
what is right!

2. A yellow streak – a fi laș

Someone who has cowardice in their character – o persoană lașă
He has always had a big yellow streak running down his back, don’t expect him to change now!

COLOURLESS IDIOMS

1. To be colourless – a nu avea culoare

Used to describe someone who lacks personality, and is really boring – se folosește pentru
a descrie o persoană plictisitoare, neinteresantă

It’s really hard to make conversation with her. She’s just really dull and colourless.

2. Off colour – a fi palid

When someone is not feeling their best, quite ill or uneasy – a fi cam bolnav, nu se simte
bine

He’s been really off colour  for the past few days, I think I might have to take him to the doctor.

3. To give/lend colour to – a da culoare

To help make a story or an explanation more credible and easier to believe, or accompany
something – a da culoare, a da sens unei istorii sau întâmplări

The broken window and missing items lent colour to her story that someone had robbed her house.

The music in the play helped to  lend colour to the performance of the actors.

4. Sail under false colours – a naviga sub culori false

To pretend to be something that one is not – a pretinde că ești cineva cine nu ești de fapt, a
te da drept altcineva

Our team leader seems to be sailing under false colours, I don’t think he really understands what
he’s supposed to be doing!”

.
5. See someone’s true colours – a vedea adevăratele culori ale cuiva
To understand someone’s actual character, often for the first time – a cunoaște valoarea
cuiva, ați face o impresie despre cineva

I thought I knew her so well, but it was only until I asked her for the money she owed me that I saw
her true colours.

6. With flying colours – cu brio

To complete something with great distinction, and excellent results - a finisa sau trece ceva cu brio,
cu succes
I didn’t think she would do so well in the final exam, but she passed it with flying colours!

Sistemul cromatic este larg și cuprinde o serie de elemente constituente. Câmpul lexico-
semantic este definitoriu în aceste sens și oferă posibilitatea de a cunoaște legătura și relațiile ce
apar între componentele ansamblului cu lumea exterioară.
Modele de cercetare a termenilor cromatici aduc mai multe perspective ce pot fi propuse spre
analiză datorită cromaticii și interacțiunii cu alte domenii. Dar tot din punct de vedere cromatic pot
fi culese și interpretate unele unități frazeologice sau lexeme și derivările acestora.
Frazeologismele și expresiile idiomatice sunt rezultatul culturii și înțelepciunii populare, ce au
reușit în timp să fundamenteze adevărate fapte istorice și sociale.