black (redirected from in black books)

*black as a skillet and *black as a stack of black cats; *black as a sweep; *black as coal; *black as night; *black as pitch; *black as the ace of spades

completely dark or black. (*Also: as ~.) I don't want to go down to the cellar. It's as black as a skillet down there. Her hair was black as a stack of black cats. After playing in the mud all morning, the children were as black as night. The stranger's clothes were all black as pitch.

See also: skillet

*black as one is painted

as evil as described. (Usually negative. *Also: as ~.) The landlord is not as black as he is painted. He seems quite generous to me. Young people are rarely black as they are painted in the media.

See also: one, painted

*black mark beside one's name

Fig. something negative associated with a person. (*Typically: get ~; have ~; give one ~.) I did it again! Now I've got still another black mark beside my name!

See also: beside, mark, name

*in black and white

Fig. [of an agreement, contract, or statement] official, in writing or printing. (*Typically: be ~; get something ~.) I have it in black and white that I'm entitled to three weeks of vacation each year.

See also: and, white

black something out 

1. Lit. to cut or turn out the lights or electric power. The lightning strike blacked the entire town out. The manager blacked out the whole building during the emergency to prevent an explosion.

2. Fig. to prevent the broadcast of a specific television or radio program in a specific area. Will they black the game out around here? They blacked out the basketball game in this area.

See also: out

black eye 

1. Lit. a bruise near the eye from being struck. (*Typically have ~; get ~; give someone ~.) I got a black eye from walking into a door. I have a black eye where John hit me.

2. Fig. harm done to one's character. (*Typically have ~; get ~; give someone ~.) Mary got a black eye because of her constant complaining. The whole group now has a black eye, and it will take years to recover our reputation.

See also: eye

black out 

1. Lit. [for lights] to go out. Suddenly the lights blacked out. The power went dead and everything blacked out from the heat.

2. Fig. to pass out; to become unconscious. After I fell, I must have blacked out. I think I am going to black out.

See also: out

black sheep of the family

Fig. the worst member of the family. Mary is the black sheep of the family. She's always in trouble with the police. He keeps making a nuisance of himself. What do you expect from the black sheep of the family?

See also: family, sheep

black-and-blue

Fig. bruised, physically or emotionally. I'm still black-and-blue from my divorce. What is that black-and-blue mark on your leg?

devil is not so black as he is painted

Prov. No one is as bad as people say he is. (Implies that people are saying too many bad things about someone.) I can't believe that actress is as coldhearted as the gossip columns say she is. The devil is not so black as he is painted.

See also: devil, painted

in the black

Fig. not in debt; in a financially profitable condition. (As opposed to in the red.) I wish my accounts were in the black. Sally moved the company into the black.

pitch black

very black; as black as pitch. The hearse was pitch black. The bandit rode on a pitch black horse and wore black clothing.

See also: pitch

pot is calling the kettle black and that's the pot calling the kettle black

Prov. You should not criticize someone for a fault that you have too. (Not polite to say about the person you are addressing.) Bill told Barbara she was sloppy, but Bill never cleans up after himself, either. That's the pot calling the kettle black. My sister says I dress funny, but if you've seen some of the clothes she wears, you know it's a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

See also: calling, kettle, pot

put something down in black and white and set something down in black and white

Fig. to write down the terms of an agreement; to draw up a written contract; to put the details of something down on paper. (Alludes to black ink and white paper.) We agree on all the major points. Now, let's set it down in black and white. I think I understand what you are talking about, but we need to put down the details in black and white.

See also: and, put, white

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not be as black as you are/it is painted

if people or situations are not as black as they are painted, they are not as bad as people say they are I've met him a few times. He's not as black as he's painted.

See also: painted

a black day

a day when something very unpleasant or sad happens (usually + for ) A bomb went off early this morning. This is a black day for the peace process.

See also: day

a black mark

if you get a black mark, people think that something you have done is bad and they will remember it in future This administrative error will be a black mark on his record. (often + against ) If I'm late for work it'll be another black mark against me.

See also: mark

be in the black

If a bank account is in the black, it contains some money, and if a person or business is in the black, they have money in the bank and are not in debt. Incredibly, we're still in the black after our holiday.

black and blue

if a person or part of their body is black and blue, their skin is covered with bruises (= black marks caused by being hit) He was beaten black and blue at boarding school.

See also: and, blue

black and white

if you think facts or situations are black and white, you have a simple and very certain opinion about them, often when other people think they are really more complicated The issue of nuclear weapons isn't as black and white as it used to be.

See also: and, white

in black and white

written down I wouldn't have believed him capable of fraud, but there it was, in black and white.

See also: and, white

pretend/say that black is white

to say the opposite of what is really true She'll say that black is white if she thinks it's to her advantage.

See also: pretend, white

swear blind  (british & Australian) also swear up and down/black and blue (American & Australian/Australian)

to say that something is completely true, especially when someone does not believe you He swore up and down that he'd never seen the letter. If I ask her, I know she'll swear blind she locked the door. He swore black and blue he had nothing to do with the missing money.

See also: blind, swear

the black sheep (of the family)

someone who is thought to be a bad person by the rest of their family My father was the black sheep - he ran away at 16 to become an actor and his parents never forgave him.

See also: sheep

the new black

used to say that something is the most popular or fashionable colour or thing at the moment Designers say that brown is the new black.

See also: new

the pot calling the kettle black

something that you say which means someone should not criticize another person for a fault that they have themselves Elliot accused me of being selfish. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!

See Piss or get off the can!, throw into the pot, A watched pot never boils

See also: calling, kettle, pot

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black and white

a very clear choice that causes no confusion When you're flying a plane, it's black and white - you can't be wrong, you've got to be right.

Etymology: based on the clear difference between the colors

See also: and, white

black out

to stop being conscious I blacked out right after the accident.

Related vocabulary: go blank

See also: out

black out something also black something out

1. to stop delivering or receiving electricity The power failure blacked out all of northern Illinois.

2. to keep from being broadcast or printed Tonight's game has been blacked out on local television so you have to buy tickets to see it. The local papers blacked out news of the disaster.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of black something out (to keep something from being seen by covering it with black)

See also: out

in black and white

1. in written or printed form Your offer sounds good, but I want you to put it in black and white.

2. as involving clear choices She tends to view the political world in black and white, with good guys and bad guys.

Etymology: based on the idea of black printing or writing on white paper

See also: and, white

in the black

in a situation in which you are earning more money than you are spending Some states have legalized gambling as a way to put their finances in the black.

Opposite of: in the red

the pot calling the kettle black

a situation in which one person criticizes another for a fault they have themselves Ernie accused me of being selfish. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!

See also: calling, kettle, pot