RULES OF THUMB

IT’S NOT THAT EASY BEING GREEN

So, you think you know what green is, right ? "It's a color!" you say. "The color of grass and emeralds and little, round peas, and long, thin string beans!" Okay, that is true. Green is all those things. But green is also SO MUCH MORE! Here are some uses of green you might not know:

green - inexperienced (as in green like a young tree)
e.g. I think he's too green to bear this kind of responsibility, but his boss wants him as a manager.
green - not ripe (describes fruit)
e.g. These papayas are still green. You'll have to wait for a couple of days to eat them.
green - concerned about the environment.
e.g. More and more people are becoming green: they are recycling and looking for ways to get rid of waste that don't pollute the land, water and air.

greens - leafy, dark green vegetables such as spinach and kale.
e.g. Kids don't like to eat greens. They prefer ice cream and candies.

Green Expressions

to have a green thumb - to be good at growing plants.
e.g. My wife has a green thumb, and I sure don't.
to be green with envy - to be jealous of something someone else has.
e.g. When Helen was given a pay increase, her friend Martha was green with envy.
to give the green light to something/someone - to say that a project can proceed; to say yes to a plan.
e.g. Bob’s last project went so well that the boss gave him the green light immediately.

Green Things
Green card – official permission for a foreigner to work and live in the USA.
Greenhouse – glass building where plants are grown all year round.