What Does “white as a sheet” mean?
Definition:
The idiom “as white as a sheet” (also “white as a sheet”) is used to describe someone whose face is very pale due to illness, shock, or fear.
Origin:
This simile, originating around 1600, persists even though bedsheets are now available in various colors.
The phrase “as white as a sheet” likely originates from the visual comparison between a person’s pale face and the color of a white bed sheet. Sheets are universally recognized for their stark whiteness, making them an apt metaphor for extreme paleness caused by various intense emotions or physical conditions.
Examples:
- Joe looks as white as a sheet. He must be very ill.
- When she heard the sudden loud noise, she turned as white as a sheet in fear.
- After receiving the bad news, his face went as white as a sheet.
- The ghost story was so scary that it left everyone as white as a sheet.
Synonyms and Related Idioms:
Synonyms:
- Pale as a ghost
- Pallid
- Ashen
- Bloodless
- Blanched
Related Idioms:
- White as a ghost
- Scared stiff
- Scared to death
- Frozen with fear
- Turned white
This idiom is in the health category.