What Does It Mean to Get the 'Greenlight?'
2022-04-17
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1And now Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English.
2In many parts of the world, the flow of traffic is controlled in part by traffic lights.
3Typically, they have three colors: green, yellow, and red.
4Green means go.
5Yellow means proceed with care and be prepared to stop. And red means stop.
6But these colored lights are not only used to control traffic.
7When it comes to red and green, we also use those two in our English expressions.
8The most common is the green light.
9"Greenlight" means to have permission to go ahead with a project.
10In English, we often turn verbs into nouns and nouns into verbs.
11For example, sometimes we use "go-ahead" as a noun.
12If you have been given a go-ahead to proceed with a project, you have been given the greenlight.
13Or in other words, you have been green-lighted, to use the past tense.
14However, we would not say that we have been "go-aheaded."
15Making that past tense is simply not correct.
16We you get the greenlight, you can proceed.
17You have been given consent.
18A greenlight is simply permission to get started!
19This term is especially common in the film and theater industry.
20Producing films and plays takes a lot of resources. So, getting the greenlight is important.
21For example, the company producing my friend's film refused to green-light production until he did a big rewrite on his script.
22Now, let's listen to these two co-workers use the term "greenlight."
23A: So, when are you starting your new project?
24B: As soon as I get the greenlight, I can take the first step.
25A: The boss gave you the go-ahead in the meeting yesterday.
26B: No, she didn't.
27A: Yes, she did. I saw her. She nodded her head!
28B: That's not a greenlight. That's body language. For all I know, she could've been tired and her head dropped forward slightly.
29A: No way. I've known her for years and that is definitely how she greenlights a project. In fact, just last week she greenlighted a bigger project than yours with just a wink.
30B: That's a shockingly subtle way to authorize a project.
31A: Perhaps. But also smart. If it doesn't work out, she can say she never gave consent.
32B: Well, my project needs a lot of resources. So, I'm going to need more than a wink and a nod, before I proceed.
33A: What more could you need?
34B: Oh I don't know ... maybe something in writing ... like an email?
35Now, a red light used as a traffic signal means "stop."
36This is also true in conversation.
37It means an order or directive to stop an action or project.
38During the pandemic, many companies put a red light on all unnecessary costs.
39Although, this usage is less common than greenlight.
40A red light can also mean a signal of danger or a warning.
41For example, always being late for work could be a red light for a larger problem.
42Used this way as a warning, we could also say "red flag."
43There is another way we use "red light."
44Sometimes we combine it with the word "district."
45In a red light district adult entertainment is sold.
46And that's the end of this Words and Their Stories! Until next time...I'm Anna Matteo.
1And now Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English. 2In many parts of the world, the flow of traffic is controlled in part by traffic lights. Typically, they have three colors: green, yellow, and red. 3Green means go. Yellow means proceed with care and be prepared to stop. And red means stop. 4But these colored lights are not only used to control traffic. When it comes to red and green, we also use those two in our English expressions. 5Green light 6The most common is the green light. 7"Greenlight" means to have permission to go ahead with a project. 8In English, we often turn verbs into nouns and nouns into verbs. 9For example, sometimes we use "go-ahead" as a noun. If you have been given a go-ahead to proceed with a project, you have been given the greenlight. Or in other words, you have been green-lighted, to use the past tense. However, we would not say that we have been "go-aheaded." Making that past tense is simply not correct. 10We you get the greenlight, you can proceed. You have been given consent. A greenlight is simply permission to get started! 11This term is especially common in the film and theater industry. Producing films and plays takes a lot of resources. So, getting the greenlight is important. 12For example, the company producing my friend's film refused to green-light production until he did a big rewrite on his script. 13Now, let's listen to these two co-workers use the term "greenlight." 14A: So, when are you starting your new project? 15B: As soon as I get the greenlight, I can take the first step. 16A: The boss gave you the go-ahead in the meeting yesterday. 17B: No, she didn't. 18A: Yes, she did. I saw her. She nodded her head! 19B: That's not a greenlight. That's body language. For all I know, she could've been tired and her head dropped forward slightly. 20A: No way. I've known her for years and that is definitely how she greenlights a project. In fact, just last week she greenlighted a bigger project than yours with just a wink. 21B: That's a shockingly subtle way to authorize a project. 22A: Perhaps. But also smart. If it doesn't work out, she can say she never gave consent. 23B: Well, my project needs a lot of resources. So, I'm going to need more than a wink and a nod, before I proceed. 24A: What more could you need? 25B: Oh I don't know ... maybe something in writing ... like an email? 26Red light 27Now, a red light used as a traffic signal means "stop." 28This is also true in conversation. It means an order or directive to stop an action or project. During the pandemic, many companies put a red light on all unnecessary costs. 29Although, this usage is less common than greenlight. 30A red light can also mean a signal of danger or a warning. For example, always being late for work could be a red light for a larger problem. Used this way as a warning, we could also say "red flag." 31There is another way we use "red light." Sometimes we combine it with the word "district." In a red light district adult entertainment is sold. 32And that's the end of this Words and Their Stories! Until next time...I'm Anna Matteo. 33Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. 34____________________________________________________________________ 35Words in This Story 36traffic - n. the movement (as of vehicles or pedestrians) along a route 37consent - n. approval of or agreement with what is done or suggested by another person 38script - n. the written form of a play or movie or the lines to be said by a performer 39nod - v. to bend the head up and down one or more times 40wink - v. to close and open one eye quickly as a signal or hint 41subtle - adj. difficult to perceive or understand 42authorize - v. to give power to : give authority to 43a wink and a nod - exp. A sly, subtle signal used to communicate a piece of information that one doesn't want to state aloud, publicly, or directly 44conversation - n. a talk between two or more people : the act of talking