The Meaning of Black

Black is often a misunderstood colour, or at least, a conflicted colour. It has both negative and positive connotations in today's world, so let's explore some of the meanings and uses of black.

The Good:

• It goes with everything!  Black is one of the shades that complements other colours very well. It makes other colours pop and can pretty much go with anything. Even black on black is fine.
• Its slimming for the figure. Anybody can wear black and it is often used to hide little flaws that people are self concious about. Don't like that flat tire around your waist? Wear black! Because its dark in nature, those little bumps and humps are concealed by the shadows of black. 
• A Black-tie Affair. Often used to reference a formal affair in which men wear tux's and women wear their "little black dress", black is the colour of choice to represent formality. 
• The Black-Belt Expert. Someone who is an expert in the sport of karate is called a black-belt. This term is sometimes used to reference an expert in any field. "She's got a black-belt in driving!" (That's me!)

The Bad:

• You've been Black-Listed. Oh no! You pissed someone off. You just made their black-list. This is a list that you don't want to be on. Akin to a shit-list, a black list is a list, imaginary or real, of people who you would just love to punch in the face if given the chance or if you could really get away with it. (There are a couple names on my black-list...) POW!
• Did I just Blackout? That's never a good thing, unless you don't want to remember the night before. I have a few good friends who just get a little too drunky-poo and woke up not remembering what went on the night before. My job is to fill in the missing pieces and let them know who they have to call and apologize to.
• Oh, me black eye! Did you just get punched in the face by a black-belt because you were on their black-list? Well hopefully you blacked-out.  
• Saucy as the Black. This is a common saying here in Newfoundland, and it doesn't mean what you think it means either. Back in the day, when English and Irish settlers were populating the island, there was often tension between the Catholics and the Protestants. Protestants were sometimes referred to as "Bible-Black". So if someone says you were "saucy as the Black" it means your defiant as a Protestant. So they say. 
• The Black Sheep of the Family. Every family has one, or two or a half dozen. They are the outcast of the family, not following in step with everyone else. Maybe not such a bad thing in some families.
• Shopping on the Black Market. Where would you go to find tiger testicles if not for the black market? The informal illegal black market is where you find stuff that you can't buy anywhere else.