green about the gills Definition

gill¹
noun

1. In all fishes and many other aquatic animals: a respiratory organ that extracts dissolved oxygen from the surrounding water.
2. See lamella sense 3.
3. colloq
The flesh around the jaw.
Form: gills

Idiom: green about the gills

See under green.

Etymology: 14c: perhaps from Scandinavian.

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green
adj greener, greenest

1. Like the colour of the leaves of most plants, between yellow and blue in the spectrum.
2. Covered with grass, bushes, etc.

Example: green areas of the city
Thesaurus: growing, verdant, lush, leafy, sprouting, luxuriant, blooming, thriving, budding, foliate, flourishing; Antonym: withered, sere, yellow.
3. Consisting mainly of leaves.

Example: green salad
4. Said of fruit: not yet ripe.
5. colloq
Said of a person: young, inexperienced or easily fooled.
Thesaurus: immature, young, growing, unripe, unseasoned, half-baked, callow, naive, unskilled; Antonym: mature, ripe.
6. Showing concern for, or designed to be harmless to, the environment.
7. Said of someone's face: pale; showing signs of nausea.

Thesaurus: pale, pallid, peaked, wan, ill, nauseated, sick, unhealthy.
8. Not dried or dry.

Example: green bacon
Example: green timber
9. Extremely jealous or envious.
10. Healthy, vigorous, or flourishing.

Example: green old age
11. Applied to the currency values in which EU farm prices are expressed.

Example: green pound
Example: green franc

noun

1. The colour of the leaves of most plants, between yellow and blue in the spectrum.
2. Something of this colour.
3. An area of grass, especially one in a public place.

Example: the village green
Thesaurus: lawn, grass, field, park, turf, common, greensward, sward.
4. An area of specially prepared turf.

Example: bowling green
Example: putting green
5. Vegetables with edible green leaves and stems.

Form: greens
6. Someone who supports actions or policies designed to protect or benefit the environment, especially someone belonging to or supporting a political party that is concerned about such issues.

Form: Green (sometimes)

verb

tr & intr
greened, greening
1. To make or become green.

Derivative: greenish
adj

Derivative: greenness
noun

Derivative: greeny
adj

Idiom: green about the gills

colloq
Looking or feeling sick.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon grene.