Purple is a color that often stands out in different ways. It’s known for its deep, rich shade and has a special meaning in many cultures. From royalty to creativity, purple has been connected with power, luxury, and imagination. You may have heard phrases like “purple patch” or “purple prose,” but what do they really mean? Idioms about purple can help describe situations, feelings, or behaviors using this color as a symbol.
In this article, we’ll explore some fun and interesting idioms that use purple. You’ll discover what they mean, how they’re used, and even test your knowledge with a quiz. Whether you’re curious about language or just want to know more about these colorful expressions, this guide will help you understand how purple shows up in everyday speech. Let’s dive into these purple idioms!
Idioms About Purple
1. Purple patch
Meaning: A period of success or good fortune.
Example Sentence:
- The team’s winning streak was a purple patch in their season.
- This was a purple patch in her career as an artist.
Other ways to say: Great moment, lucky streak.
Fun Fact/Origin: The term comes from ancient writing, where a “purple patch” referred to an outstanding part of a poem or story.
Usage: Commonly used in sports or career achievements.
2. Purple prose
Meaning: Writing that is overly descriptive or fancy.
Example Sentence:
- The author’s novel was full of purple prose, with long, flowery descriptions.
- His speech was criticized for sounding like purple prose instead of being clear.
Other ways to say: Flowery language, overly descriptive writing.
Fun Fact/Origin: This term dates back to the 18th century and refers to writing that is as overly decorated as purple dye, which was expensive and rare.
Usage: Used to describe writing or speech that is unnecessarily complicated.
3. Purple reign
Meaning: A period of dominance or control.
Example Sentence:
- The company’s purple reign in the market lasted for several years.
- His purple reign in the sports world made him a legend.
Other ways to say: Time of dominance, era of control.
Fun Fact/Origin: “Purple” is often linked with royalty, and “reign” refers to ruling power.
Usage: Often used to describe leaders or periods of great influence.
4. Seeing red and purple
Meaning: Feeling very angry or upset.
Example Sentence:
- She was seeing red and purple when she found out the news.
- After the argument, he was seeing red and purple, unable to calm down.
Other ways to say: Seeing red, very angry.
Fun Fact/Origin: The phrase comes from the idea that anger causes the face to flush, turning it red and purple.
Usage: Used when someone is extremely mad.
5. Purple heart
Meaning: A decoration awarded to soldiers wounded or killed in battle.
Example Sentence:
- He received a Purple Heart after being injured in the line of duty.
- The soldier proudly displayed his Purple Heart for his bravery.
Other ways to say: Military honor, combat medal.
Fun Fact/Origin: The Purple Heart is an American military decoration, first awarded in 1932.
Usage: Used in reference to military service and sacrifice.
6. Purple cow
Meaning: Something that is very unusual or strange.
Example Sentence:
- That new restaurant was a purple cow in the neighborhood, with its wild decorations.
- The idea of a pet dinosaur is a purple cow!
Other ways to say: Odd things, strange occurrences.
Fun Fact/Origin: The phrase comes from the idea that a purple cow would be so unusual it would stand out.
Usage: Used when something is noticeably different from the ordinary.
7. In the purple
Meaning: In a position of great success or wealth.
Example Sentence:
- After landing the big contract, the business was finally in the purple.
- He felt like he was in the purple when his artwork was sold for thousands.
Other ways to say: On top, in a good spot.
Fun Fact/Origin: “Purple” was historically a color worn by royalty, symbolizing wealth and power.
Usage: Used to describe someone in a position of advantage.
8. Purple flair
Meaning: Having a special style or talent.
Example Sentence:
- Her purple flair for fashion made her the most stylish person at the party.
- He plays the guitar with a purple flair that impresses everyone.
Other ways to say: Special talent, unique style.
Fun Fact/Origin: “Flair” refers to a special talent or style, and the use of purple emphasizes its uniqueness.
Usage: Used when describing someone with a unique gift.
9. A purple smile
Meaning: A smile that shows confidence and pride.
Example Sentence:
- She walked into the room with a purple smile, knowing she had succeeded.
- His purple smile showed he was proud of his achievements.
Other ways to say: Confident grin, proud smile.
Fun Fact/Origin: The color purple has long been associated with pride and royalty.
Usage: Used to describe someone smiling with confidence or pride.
10. Purple tongue
Meaning: Speaking in an overly fancy or dramatic way.
Example Sentence:
- He spoke with a purple tongue during the meeting, trying to impress everyone.
- Her purple tongue made the conversation feel like a performance.
Other ways to say: Flowery speech, dramatic talking.
Fun Fact/Origin: “Purple” is often associated with something that is overly elaborate or exaggerated.
Usage: Used to describe speech that is unnecessarily complex or dramatic.
11. Purple fever
Meaning: An intense passion or enthusiasm for something.
Example Sentence:
- After the new movie came out, everyone in the city had purple fever.
- He caught purple fever after joining the soccer team and practiced every day.
Other ways to say: Excitement, intense passion.
Fun Fact/Origin: The color purple represents energy and passion, which ties into the idea of feverish excitement.
Usage: Used when someone is very enthusiastic about something.
12. Wearing purple
Meaning: Showing power or authority.
Example Sentence:
- She was wearing purple today, signaling her leadership role in the meeting.
- The coach was wearing purple to show his authority over the team.
Other ways to say: Showing power, in charge.
Fun Fact/Origin: Purple was historically the color of kings and queens, symbolizing power.
Usage: Used to describe someone who is asserting their authority.
13. Purple rain
Meaning: A situation where everything is going wrong, but there’s still hope.
Example Sentence:
- The power went out, the phones died, and the rain started pouring—it was purple rain.
- Even with all the mistakes, there’s always purple rain—better days ahead.
Other ways to say: Bad luck with hope, tough times with a silver lining.
Fun Fact/Origin: Popularized by the song “Purple Rain” by Prince, symbolizing both struggle and hope.
Usage: Used to describe hard times that can lead to something better.
14. A purple sky
Meaning: A rare, beautiful, and breathtaking sight.
Example Sentence:
- The sunset painted the sky in purple, and everyone stopped to admire it.
- As the storm cleared, the purple sky looked like something out of a painting.
Other ways to say: Beautiful view, stunning sight.
Fun Fact/Origin: Purple skies are rare, making them a symbol of something awe-inspiring.
Usage: Used to describe something beautiful or extraordinary.
15. In a purple mood
Meaning: Feeling proud, confident, or happy.
Example Sentence:
- She was in a purple mood after winning the competition.
- He was in a purple mood all day after getting the job offer.
Other ways to say: Feeling great, on top of the world.
Fun Fact/Origin: Purple is a color associated with royalty and pride, so being “in a purple mood” means feeling on top.
Usage: Used to describe someone feeling happy or confident.
16. Purple in the face
Meaning: Extremely embarrassed or upset.
Example Sentence:
- He turned purple in the face when he realized he had forgotten his speech.
- She went purple in the face after making a mistake in front of the class.
Other ways to say: Blushing, embarrassed.
Fun Fact/Origin: The idea is that embarrassment or anger causes the face to turn red or purple.
Usage: Used to describe someone who is very embarrassed or upset.
17. Purple power
Meaning: Great strength or control.
Example Sentence:
- The team showed their purple power by winning every game of the season.
- She displayed purple power during the interview, impressing everyone.
Other ways to say: Strength, leadership.
Fun Fact/Origin: Purple has long been linked with power, especially in historical contexts.
Usage: Used to describe someone showing leadership or control.
18. Purple passion
Meaning: Intense enthusiasm or excitement.
Example Sentence:
- His purple passion for sports was evident when he cheered at every game.
- She has a purple passion for painting and creates artwork every day.
Other ways to say: Strong love, deep enthusiasm.
Fun Fact/Origin: Purple is often connected with intense feelings, and passion is one of them.
Usage: Used to describe someone who has a deep, strong interest in something.
19. Purple star
Meaning: Someone who stands out in their field.
Example Sentence:
- She’s a purple star in the world of acting, with multiple awards to her name.
- He became a purple star in the music industry after his first album went platinum.
Other ways to say: Superstar, standout performer.
Fun Fact/Origin: “Purple” represents something special, and a “star” represents success and fame.
Usage: Used to describe someone who is highly successful or talented.
20. Under the purple flag
Meaning: Operating under a symbol of great authority or power.
Example Sentence:
- The company is under the purple flag of the CEO, who makes all the big decisions.
- The town was under the purple flag when the mayor took charge.
Other ways to say: Under control, under strong leadership.
Fun Fact/Origin: The purple flag is a symbol of royalty and authority.
Usage: Used to describe a situation where someone is in charge.
21. Purple shadow
Meaning: A feeling of being overshadowed by someone else.
Example Sentence:
- He lived in the purple shadow of his famous brother.
- The new movie cast a purple shadow over the earlier productions.
Other ways to say: Overshadowed, in someone’s shadow.
Fun Fact/Origin: Purple is a color that stands out, making it a symbol of something casting a shadow.
Usage: Used to describe being outshined by someone else.
22. Purple gaze
Meaning: A look that expresses power or confidence.
Example Sentence:
- She gave him a purple gaze that made him feel he was being judged.
- His purple gaze across the room showed he was in control.
Other ways to say: Confident look, strong gaze.
Fun Fact/Origin: The “purple gaze” refers to a look that commands attention, similar to how royalty might look at others.
Usage: Used to describe someone giving a strong, confident look.
23. A purple crown
Meaning: A symbol of leadership or victory.
Example Sentence:
- After the final match, she wore a purple crown as the new champion.
- His promotion to CEO felt like earning a purple crown after years of hard work.
Other ways to say: Leader’s crown, victory symbol.
Fun Fact/Origin: Purple crowns have historically been worn by royalty, symbolizing power and success.
Usage: Used to describe someone who has achieved a great victory or leadership.
24. Purple whispers
Meaning: Secretive or influential talks.
Example Sentence:
- The purple whispers in the office were about a new promotion.
- During the meeting, there were purple whispers about the upcoming project.
Other ways to say: Secret talks, behind-the-scenes chatter.
Fun Fact/Origin: Purple often signifies something important or secretive, like royal matters.
Usage: Used to describe confidential or influential discussions.
25. A purple mirror
Meaning: A way of reflecting one’s true self or power.
Example Sentence:
- Her actions in the meeting were a purple mirror of her leadership style.
- The movie was a purple mirror of his life as a musician.
Other ways to say: True reflection, self-reflection.
Fun Fact/Origin: The mirror represents seeing oneself clearly, while purple suggests authority.
Usage: Used when reflecting on one’s true nature or position.
26. A purple echo
Meaning: The lasting impact of one’s actions or words.
Example Sentence:
- The purple echo of her speech lingered long after the event.
- His purple echo in the community made him a hero.
Other ways to say: Lasting influence, lingering impact.
Fun Fact/Origin: Echoes are sounds that last, and purple suggests something that makes an impression.
Usage: Used when referring to a lasting effect or influence.
27. Purple light
Meaning: A moment of realization or clarity.
Example Sentence:
- The purple light of understanding came when she explained the concept.
- After weeks of confusion, the purple light finally clicked.
Other ways to say: Moment of clarity, breakthrough.
Fun Fact/Origin: Light is often used to symbolize clarity, and purple adds a sense of importance.
Usage: Used to describe a sudden realization.
28. Under the purple veil
Meaning: Operating under a cover of mystery or secrecy.
Example Sentence:
- The plans were kept under the purple veil of secrecy until the announcement.
- The magician’s trick was performed under the purple veil, leaving everyone amazed.
Other ways to say: Covered mystery, hidden agenda.
Fun Fact/Origin: Purple is a royal color, often used to hide something important or secretive.
Usage: Used to describe something being kept secret or mysterious.
Quiz: Idioms About Purple
Instructions: Read each question and the answer choices carefully. Pick the letter that best matches the meaning of the phrase or expression.
Question Key
- What does “purple patch” mean?
A) A bad day
B) A period of success
C) A sad event
- If someone is said to be “wearing purple,” what does it mean?
A) They are confident and in charge
B) They are very tired
C) They are feeling sick
- What does “purple heart” refer to?
A) A special award for soldiers
B) A fancy piece of jewelry
C) A type of flower
- What does it mean when someone is “in the purple”?
A) They are sad
B) They are successful or wealthy
C) They are sick or hurt
- What is “purple prose”?
A) Writing that is simple and clear
B) Writing that is overly fancy or dramatic
C) Writing that is funny and fun
- If someone is “seeing red and purple,” what are they feeling?
A) Excited and happy
B) Very angry or upset
C) Confused and tired
- “Purple rain” can be used to describe:
A) A stormy day
B) A situation where things are going wrong but there’s hope
C) A sunny, perfect day
- What does “purple flair” mean?
A) A special talent or style
B) A type of flower
C) A special way of cooking
- What is meant by “purple smile”?
A) A sad expression
B) A smile full of pride or confidence
C) A smile with too many teeth showing
- What is a “purple cow”?
A) A rare and unusual thing
B) A common farm animal
C) A type of candy
Answers Key
- B) A period of success
- A) They are confident and in charge
- A) A special award for soldiers
- B) They are successful or wealthy
- B) Writing that is overly fancy or dramatic
- B) Very angry or upset
- B) A situation where things are going wrong but there’s hope
- A) A special talent or style
- B) A smile full of pride or confidence
- A) A rare and unusual thing
Wrapping Up
We’ve explored many purple idioms, from “purple patch” to “purple heart.” These phrases help describe feelings, actions, or situations in creative ways. Understanding idioms can make your conversations more interesting and fun.
Remember, idioms are like little shortcuts to express big ideas. Next time you hear someone talk about a “purple reign” or “purple smile,” you’ll know what they mean. Keep practicing, and soon, using idioms will feel natural!
Take what you’ve learned and try using these idioms in your everyday life. The more you use them, the easier they will be to remember.
