yellow

The colour of lemons or the sun in a child’s drawing.

• Yellow is my favourite colour.
• She painted the door a bright yellow.
• The picture has too much yellow in it.

Common phrases: bright yellow, pale yellow, in yellow

The colour of lemons and ripe bananas.

• Yellow is my favourite colour.
• She painted the door a warm yellow.
• The artist mixed several shades of yellow.

Common phrases: bright yellow, pale yellow, in yellow

Having the colour of lemons or ripe bananas.

• She wore a yellow dress.
• The leaves turned yellow in autumn.
• Which yellow bag is yours?

Common phrases: yellow flower, yellow paint, pale yellow

Too afraid to do something brave or difficult.

• He called me yellow.
• They said he was too yellow to fight.
• Are you yellow, or will you stand up to him?

How to use it: too yellow to do something (He was too yellow to face the angry crowd.)

Similar words: cowardly

Opposites: brave

Common phrases: yellow coward, too yellow

Supporting or belonging to the Liberal Democrats, a British political party.

• The yellow seats are mostly in the south.
• The map showed a few yellow constituencies.
• Several councils turned yellow after the election.

Common phrases: yellow constituency, yellow seats

Supporting or belonging to the Free Democratic Party in Germany.

• The yellow ministers supported the proposal.
• A yellow campaign poster appeared outside the station.
• The yellow party lost seats in the German election.

Common phrases: yellow coalition, yellow ministers

To gradually become the colour of lemons, often because of age.

• The paper began to yellow.
• Her teeth had yellowed over the years.
• The leaves are yellowing earlier this autumn.

How to use it: yellow with age (The photographs yellowed with age.)

Common phrases: yellow with age, begin to yellow