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White Idioms

20 White Idioms

20 White Idioms to Brighten Your Day

When we think about white, we think about something pure and simple. So, there’s no surprise that the color white is used in many idioms. Take a look at these 20 white idioms and how we can use them in everyday life.

White lie

A small or harmless lie that we tell to avoid hurting someone.

I told a white lie about liking the meal to avoid hurting her feelings.
He said a white lie about being very busy to get out of the meeting.

Raise a white flag

To surrender or give up.

The team raised a white flag, knowing they couldn’t win.
After arguing for hours, he raised a white flag to avoid further conflict.

White-collar job

A job that usually involves office or professional work.

She works a white-collar job as an accountant.
He prefers white-collar jobs in the tech industry.

White as a ghost

Extremely pale or scared.

She turned white as a ghost after hearing the bad news.
He was white as a ghost after avoiding the accident.

White elephant

Something that is expensive but doesn’t have much value.

The statue turned out to be a white elephant, taking up space without much use.
The fancy car became a white elephant, costing more than it was worth.

White as snow

Pure and clean.

The dress was white as snow, perfect for the wedding.
The freshly fallen snow was white as snow, covering the ground.

Whitewash

To cover up a mistake, make it look like it didn’t happen.

The company tried to whitewash its past failures with a new marketing campaign.
She whitewashed the incident, avoiding taking responsibility.

In black and white

In a clear and straightforward manner.

The terms were laid out in black and white, making them easy to understand.
He prefers seeing things in black and white without any confusion.

White knight

A savior or rescuer.

The new manager was a white knight, saving the company from bankruptcy.
He saw himself as a white knight coming to her rescue.

Wave a white flag

To surrender or admit defeat.

They waved a white flag, knowing they couldn’t win.
The negotiator waved a white flag to avoid further argument.

White-collar crime

A crime that isn’t violent – often related to business or finance.

He was convicted of white-collar crime for embezzling funds.
White-collar crime includes things like fraud and insider trading.

White lie detector

Someone who can easily tell if another person is lying.

My mom’s a white lie detector; she always knows when I’m not truthful.
The interviewer acted like a white lie detector, catching inconsistencies.

Like a white horse

Standing out or attracting attention.

Her performance was like a white horse, captivating the audience.
The bright design stood out like a white horse.

White noise

Background noise. Some people use it to fall asleep.

The fan creates white noise, making it hard to concentrate.
The white noise from the TV helps him sleep.

White paper

A detailed report or guide about a specific topic – usually written to explain or solve a problem.

The government released a white paper on healthcare reform.
The company’s white paper detailed its new technology.

White lie policy

An approach that allows for small lies to avoid harm.

She adopted a white lie policy to avoid hurting her friends’ feelings.
The team’s white lie policy prevents unnecessary conflict.

A white day

A special or successful day.

The wedding was a white day for the couple.
The launch was a white day, marking a milestone for the company.

White sale

A sale, usually after the New Year, with discounts on household items, especially things like sheets, towels, and linens.

The store had a white sale, offering discounts on sheets and towels.
He took advantage of the white sale to buy new bedding.

Bleed white

To take everything from someone.

The project bled him white, taking up all his time and resources.
The legal battle bled the company white, leaving it bankrupt.

Go white

To become pale, often from fear or shock.

He went white when he saw the spider.
She went white after hearing the bad news.

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