# green light

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/green-light
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Approval, or permission to proceed.

## Examples

- The boss gave us the green light to start the project.
- After reviewing our budget proposal, the director finally gave us the green light to hire more staff.
- Once the committee granted the green light for the construction project, the architects immediately began finalizing the blueprints for the new library.

## Origin

From the standard red-green colour scheme established for railway signals and later adopted for traffic lights. The association of the colour green with the permission to proceed provided the basis for the figurative expression.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.