# yellow light

idiom

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

## Meaning

Hesitance to proceed; limited approval or permission to proceed.

## Examples

- My boss gave me the yellow light for the project.
- The committee gave us a yellow light, so we can start planning but cannot spend any money yet.
- Although the board provided a yellow light regarding the merger, they insisted on further legal review before granting final approval.

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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.