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[Idioms #4] Colours - Pink Portal Gazeta.pl -> http ..
Enrico C (enrico.c@spamcop.net) 2003/12/27 19:25

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From: Enrico C <enrico.c@spamcop.net>
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Subject: [Idioms #4] Colours - Pink
Date: Sun, 28 Dec 2003 02:25:32 +0000 (UTC)
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There is a code of colours, but I guess it's a bit different in every
language.

In my own language, Italian, I can say,  for instance "She sees life
through pink lenses", meaning she is an optimist!
But a "pink team" would be a sport team made of women or girls.
"Pink novels", in the Italian idiomatic meaning, are books about
dreamy love stories, usually read by young women. The "pink press" are
magazines about celebrities, gossip and the like.
Let me add that "pink" and "rose" (the flower) are just the same word
in Italian: <rosa>.

I think "pink" has different meanings in English.

"Pink" may be referred to homesexuality, but "Pink elephants" are
hallucinations. There is no such thing as a "pink elephant" in real
life!

Then, "In the pink", looking and feeling healthy and happy. "Last time
I saw Barb, she was in the pink. She looked great.", says the Wayne
Magnuson site, a wonderful list of English idioms on the net.
So, I understand "pink" means "very well, very fine, at the top",
here.
Where does that positive meaning come from?
Is it just because pink is a nice, graceful colour? Or is there story
behind?


--
Enrico C

Do Something Amazing Today
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