Although we have a plethora of words in our vocabularies which make use of colour, it is unlikely that we each perceive colour in the same way. Here is a look at some fascinating colour-related idioms with examples. Tickled pink is a colour idiom. It means 'to be extremely thrilled, pleased or delighted regarding something.' It is believed that the phrase refers to the fact that when some people get excited, they literally change colour, and their skin turns quite pink just like when they blush. The blood vessels dilate and more blood flows close to the skin, which is literally being tickled pink! The idea is of enjoyment great enough to make the person go pink.

Red in the face is another colour idiom. It means 'to become embarrassed about something.' The phrase 'red face' was already used in the late 1300s to refer to blushing due to shame. The white-skinned Europeans have a characteristic of temporary facial reddening that may be caused by embarrassment. The blood vessels widen and the white skin reddens. It is an unconscious reaction, and therefore people relate it to its cause.

Browned off is another colour idiom. It means 'to be annoyed or bored with someone or something.' This expression originated as Royal Air Force slang for 'disgusted' and 'depressed' in the late 1930s and had crossed the Atlantic by the Second World War. Gradually, it came to be used more widely as a slang synonym for 'infuriated.' According to one theory by Eric Partridge in his slang dictionary, it alludes to brass buttons on a uniform turning brown due to the lack of polishing. However, he has also noted that the word had the same literal meaning as 'buggered'.

Iolite is a magnesium aluminium silicate mineral and its name comes from the stone's violet colour. It is also found in different colours like transparent, light blue and yellowy grey. It has been compared to light blue sapphire and is known as water sapphire. It is also called Cordierite and Dichroite. It was one of the first gems to be used as a compass. Its important deposits are found mainly in Burma, India, Sri Lanka, Madagascar and Brazil. It is believed to be a stone of vision and creative expression and is thus used in the healing of eyesight.

Labradorite is a gemstone which is a type of feldspar. It is named after the Canadian province of Labrador. It is considered valuable for its lustrous metallic reflections. According to Inuit lore, the Northern Lights used to be trapped inside rocks on the coast off the Labrador Peninsula. One day, they were found by an Inuit warrior who released them using his spear. Sadly, the warrior couldn't free all the lights and so some remained imprisoned in the rocks. This is the reason why Labradorite is found in the rocks of Labrador today. The iridescence appears as fascinating blue and rainbow-coloured reflections when light strikes the gem in a certain direction, causing a lovely sheen. Crystals with this colourful effect are used in carvings. This gemstone is believed to bring out the best in the wearer. It is also known as the self-esteem stone.

The lilac-breasted roller derives its name from the fascinating tumbling and rolling flight that it performs during courtship. This aerial acrobat is a wonderful sight as its colourful wings are on full display. A lilac chest is the identifying feature of the bird. It has a pale pinkish-orange face with a whitish chin. It has elongated tail streamers with dull tips that wear away to show darker colours. When the wings are spread, they are absolutely eye-catching. The bird prefers to perch itself on bushy, savannah dry woodland trees and is considered to be a territorial bird.

The California Red-Sided Garter snake is dark olive to almost black. The head is olive, red or orange. It has prominent yellow stripe down the back with less prominent stripes along its sides. There are red bars alternating with the background colour on the sides. The underside is either yellow-green or blue. Interestingly, the stripes resemble garters men used to wear to hold up their socks. There is another theory that the name is a corruption of the German word for 'garden' which is why the snake is also called 'garden snake'.