Meanings of Neutral Colours:

Black- conservative, mysterious, sophisticated

Grey - formal, conservative, sophisticated

Silver - sleek, glamorous, rich

White - purity, innocence, softness

Ivory- quiet, pleasant, understated elegance

Brown - earthiness, wholesomeness, simplicity, friendliness

Beige - conservative, relaxing

  BROWN

Brown relates to stability, reliability, and approachability. It is the colour of our earth and is associated with all things natural or organic

Brown gives a feeling of wholesomeness and orderliness and gives us a connectionto the earth.

In India, brown is the color of mourning because it resembles dying leaves.

  Shades of Brown.

Sienna, bay, sand, wood, dapple, auburn, chestnut, nut-brown, cinnamon, russet, tawny, chocolate, tan, brunette, fawn, liver-colored, mahogany, oak, bronze, terra-cotta, toast, umber, cocoa, coffee, copper, ecru, ginger, hazel, khaki, ochre, puce, snuff-colored.

Common expressions using the colour BROWN

Brown - cook or burn

Brown-nose - someone who attempts to ingratiate themselves with people of authority

Brown bottle - beer

Brown study - someone who is aloof, indifferent

Brown out - partial loss of electricity

Grey is the colour of intellect, knowledge, and wisdom. It is perceived as long-lasting, classic, and often as sleek or refined. It is a colour that is dignified, conservative, and carries authority. Physically it is unsettling and creates expectations.

Grey is the colour for Lent in Christianity.

Grey is representative of mourning and repentance in Christianity.

  Shades of Grey.

Charcoal, slate, iron gray, ashen, lead, mousy, gunmetal, silver, dove gray, powder grey, oyster, pearl, taupe,

  Common expressions using the colour GREY

Grey matter - brains, intellect

Grey power - having to do with the elderly or senior citizens

Grey - dull, dingy, dirty

Grey page - in desktop publishing, a text-heavy page with little contrast or white space

Grey-hair - old person 

Grey water - dirty water such as water drained from a bathtub or kitchen sink

Black is authoritative and powerful; be overwhelming. Black represents a lack of color, emptiness. It is a classic colour for clothing, possibly because it makes the wearer appear thinner and more sophisticated. Black is associated with power; judges robes, priests’ robes, tuxedos are all black

Black makes one feel inconspicuous, provides a restful emptiness and is favoured in the fashion industry

In Chinese culture, colours corresponded with the five primary elements, the directions, and the four seasons. Black was associated with water, north, and winter.

In Aztec culture, black represented war

In the west, black is the colour of mourning but the custom of wearing unadorned black clothing for mourning dates back at least to the Roman Empire

In rural areas of Mexico, Portugal, Spain, Italy and Greece widows will wear black for the rest of their lives. The immediate family members of the deceased will wear black for an extended period of time.

In China, black is a traditional clothing colour for boys.

   Shades of the colour BLACK.

Ebony, jet, ink, lampblack, coal, soot, charcoal, raven, midnight, obsidian, onyx, sable.

  Common expressions using the colour BLACK

Black tie - formal (as in formal party attire)

Black belt - expert (especially in martial arts)

Men in black - government agents

Black box - equipment or apparatus

Pitch black - dark as night, very black

Black out - Loss of consciousness 

Blackout - loss of electricity or turning out the lights

Black-hearted - evil

Blackguard - a scoundrel

Black sheep - an outcast from a family or from society

Black market - illegal trade

Blackmail - obtaining something by threat

Blacklist - list of people or organizations to boycott, avoid, or punish

White projects purity, cleanliness, and neutrality. Doctors wear white coats, brides traditionally wear white gowns

White aids mental clarity and enables fresh beginnings.

White is the traditional colour worn by brides in the western world, as well as in Japan.

White is a colour of mourning in China and parts of Africa.

A white flag is universally recognized as a symbol of truce.

  Shades of WHITE

Snow, pearl, antique white, ivory, chalk, milk white, lily, smoke, seashell, old lace, cream, linen, ghost white, beige, cornsilk, alabaster.

  Common expressions using the colour WHITE

White as the driven snow - pure, clean, innocent

White elephant - rare, valuable but perhaps unwanted

White knight - someone who comes to another's rescue

White list - list of good or acceptable items

Pearly white - teeth, especially very white teeth

Whitewash - cover up, conceal

Whiteout - zero visibility

White lightning - moonshine

White knuckle - something that is fast, exciting, or frightening