see yellow
To receive a yellow card.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The player saw yellow for a late tackle.”
“Our goalkeeper sees yellow for touching the ball outside the box.”
“You see yellow if you take your shirt off to celebrate a goal.”
“The referee did not hesitate to make the defender see yellow after that dangerous challenge.”
“If you keep wasting time during these goal kicks, the referee will eventually make you see yellow.”
“The midfielder had to see yellow to stop the opponent from starting a fast counter-attack.”
“The striker saw yellow after he dived in the penalty area to try and win a foul for his team.”
“Although the captain argued his case with passion, the official remained unmoved and forced him to see yellow for his persistent dissent.”
First recorded in the mid-20th century, the expression is a modern formation modelled on the nineteenth-century idiom see red. While the latter suggests the sudden visual disturbance associated with anger, this variant adapted the structure to signify the onset of cowardice or jealousy. The construction relies entirely on the existing linguistic pattern of the earlier phrase.
- 01
for all the world to see
in plain view; clearly visible
- 02
have seen one's day
Of a person, thing, idea, etc., to be at the point in a life cycle or career of no longer being useful or effective; to be worn-out.
- 03
have seen one's last gum tree
Of a person, on the edge of death.
- 04
have seen this movie
To have experienced a situation which is the same as or similar to the current situation, especially with a sense of the unpleasantness or tiresomeness of the recurring situation.
- 05
I see, said the blind man
Expressing confusion.
- 06
I'd like to see someone try
Expressing a threat or challenge to someone.
- 07
long time no see
I (or we) have not seen you for a long time.
- 08
not see someone for dust
To not see someone at all; implying a hasty departure.
Last updated August 10, 2026