Life isn’t black and white, it’s not even gray – it’s multi-color, right?! (especially in Italy).
So to add a little bit of Italian color into your life, here’s a language guide to i colori (colors):
Rosso - red
Arancione - orange
Giallo - yellow
Verde - green
Blu - blue
Azzurro – light blue
Viola – purple
Rosa - pink
Nero - black
Marrone - brown
Bianco - white
Grigio – gray
Let’s now look at some idiomatic expressions employing colors:
Dirne di tutti i colori – to speak out, to speak one’s mind
Farne di tutti i colori – to be up to all kinds of mischief
Il principe azzurro – prince charming
Rosso di sera bel tempo si spera - red sky at night, shepherd's delight
Pagare in nero – pay under the table
Essere di umore nero – be in a bad mood
Pollice verde – green thumb
Numero verde – toll free number
Notte in bianco – sleepless night
Mangiare in bianco – to eat bland, plain food
Mettere nero su bianco – put into writing
Vedere tutto rose e fiori – to interpret everything as easy, simple and happy
Romanzi gialli – crime novels
Esistenza grigia – bland life
