English idiom

green light

Register · Neutral CEFR B1

Post

Figurative meaning

official permission to proceed with something

Why this phrase?

From traffic lights: go.

Example

“The board gave the roadmap a green light this morning.”

Dictionary details

Component words

green

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

green with envy

feeling extremely jealous of what another person has

cut your losses

to stop investing in a failing venture in order to avoid further loss

pull the trigger

to finally make a decision and act on it

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

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