| Idiom | Explanation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Black board | A board of black colour, often used in games like chess or as a decorative surface. | He used a black board to make the white pieces stand out more clearly during the chess tournament. |
| Blackboard | A flat, usually dark-coloured surface used for writing with chalk, commonly found in classrooms. | The teacher filled the blackboard with maths equations, leaving little space for the next lesson. |
| Black book | A record or list of people who are out of favour or suspected of wrongdoing. | After missing the last three meetings, I’m sure I’ve landed in the boss’s black book. |
| Little black book | A personal notebook containing contacts, often for dates or private matters. | He pulled out his little black book and quickly dialled one of his old friends for advice. |
| Black box | A device or piece of technology whose internal workings are unknown or secret, often used for flight recorders. | The investigators retrieved the black box from the wreckage to understand what caused the plane crash. |
| Dark box | A completely light-proof container used to store items sensitive to light, such as photographic plates. | The old camera required a dark box to safely develop the film without exposure. |
| Black cap | Historically, a special cap worn by judges in the UK when delivering a death sentence. | The courtroom fell silent as the judge placed the black cap on his head and pronounced the sentence. |
| Black hat | A term used to describe a villain or wrongdoer, often seen in old films where the villain wears a black hat. | In classic Western films, it’s always easy to spot the black hat who causes all the trouble. |
| Black-collar workers | Refers to workers in physically demanding industries like mining or oil drilling, or creative fields like media and art. | The city’s nightlife was often filled with black-collar workers unwinding after a long shift in the mines. |
| Idiom | Explanation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| White-collar workers | Employees who work in an office or perform non-manual tasks, typically administrative or professional roles. | The rise of automation has shifted many manufacturing jobs from blue-collar to white-collar positions. |
| Black eye | 1. A visible bruise around the eye, usually from an injury. 2. A metaphorical defeat or blow to one’s reputation. | After the heated debate, the politician walked away with a black eye in the public’s opinion. |
| Blackeye | A type of plant, typically grown for its usefulness in agriculture, such as for green manure. | Farmers planted blackeye crops in rotation to restore nutrients to the soil for the next planting season. |
| Black hole | A situation where resources or money are lost with no return, often with no visible outcome or improvement. | The company’s new venture turned into a financial black hole, draining funds without any signs of profit. |
| Black hole of Calcutta | A dark, cramped, and uncomfortable space or situation, often suffocating or oppressive. | His small, windowless office felt like the black hole of Calcutta, making it hard to focus on his work. |
| Black ivory | A historical reference to the African slave trade, where enslaved people were treated as valuable commodities. | The abolitionist fought fiercely against the trafficking of black ivory, calling for freedom for all. |
| Ivory black | A black pigment made from burnt ivory or bones, historically used in art and painting. | The artist preferred the deep, rich tone of ivory black for his detailed charcoal sketches. |
| Black-leg | 1. A worker who continues to work during a strike or is hired to replace striking workers. 2. A dishonest gambler. | The striking workers were furious when they saw black-legs crossing the picket line to keep the factory running. |
| Blackfoot | Refers to the Indigenous people of the Blackfoot Confederacy, or their language. | The Blackfoot tribe’s rich traditions and culture have been passed down through generations of storytelling. |
| Black market | An illegal marketplace where goods or services are traded outside of government regulations or restrictions. | During the shortage, essential items like medicine were only available on the black market at inflated prices. |
| Gray market | A legal, yet unofficial market where goods are sold at prices below the regulated or recommended levels. | Many electronics find their way to the gray market, where they’re sold at a discount without warranties. |
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