Take a walk with me where the grass is greener, and the green-eyed monster lurks around every corner. Can you imagine a land where everything is a green idiom?
Crafting a story compares to going on a new adventure. Who are the heroes? Who are the villains? Where’s the plot twist?
It’s true authors are really just making things up.
That being said, I’m always looking for ways to add energy to my writing. One of those ways is playing with fun figurative language.
For this week’s dive into a writer’s brain…
Idioms.
Who doesn’t love a good idiom? The pairing of random words to make a statement that immediately conjures an image—it’s brilliant!
In honor of March and all things green, I wanted to share with you a handful of Green Idioms from a character’s perspective!
- Green with Envy
This is one of my favorites when writing a villainous character. Green with Envy denotes a high level of jealousy and can be a motivating emotion for the criminal deeds of mischievous characters.
2. Green Thumb 
Having a green thumb is something I’ll never be accused of. The last time I killed—I mean attempted to take care of a houseplant was about two years ago. It was a cactus that, while beautiful, had a brief life in my care. If your character has a Green Thumb, giant leafy ferns and long sprawling vines are just a snapshot of their environment.
Do any characters come to mind?
3. Green around the Gills
Unlike being green with envy, if you see someone “looking green” or “Green around the Gills”, step back. Character’s with this description plunge me right into the heart of seasickness. Think of a scene with large swells rolling on the ocean and a boat tossed around like a toy. Green around the Gills is a perfect description to replace a simple “Bill looks sick” when describing a sea-faring character who’s feeling under the weather.
4. The Grass is Always Greener on the Other Side
What do you think? Is this true? The phrase almost goes hand in hand with Green with Envy. They’re like old friends strolling into the sunset. This saying about grass has nothing to do with lawns but more to do with being unsatisfied with what you have. Talk about a great story prompt. Take a leading character unhappy with their life and have them focus solely on what others have. When the character finally secures the object of their desire, their life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. It could even be worse.
5. Green (a person) 
Have you ever endured a first day at a new job you weren’t qualified for? Or tried something new and have no idea what you’re doing? Welcome to being labeled Green! When I think of using “green” in writing, I think of the trope a-pauper-turns-prince. Imagine a character thrown into a strange environment and struggling to figure things out along the way. Want to craft a relatable character? Use this as a launch point! Everyone relates to the long shot, the person pulled from their normal everyday life and thrust into a setting that’s unfamiliar. Green might feel uncertain, but everyone is rooting for them!
And my final character description:
6. The Green Light 
Otherwise known as the go-ahead. Have you ever been given the green light to do something? Anticipation and excitement flood the senses. When I think of giving the Green Light images of military pilots come to mind as they brandish a thumbs-up for take-off. This idiom produces pulse-pounding adrenaline or maybe a sweat-covered brow. Either way, your character’s finger is on the button and now there’s no turning back.
I hope these Green Idiom Characters make you smile and jumpstart a little spark into your creative journey this week.
If they do, take this Golden Opportunity and leave a comment describing your own idiom character traits!