Green

Green is the colour of grass, leaves, and the second traffic light from the top. It sits between blue and yellow on the spectrum, and is made by mixing the two, although neither has ever accepted responsibility.^[1]

Grass is famously greener on the other side. In 2014 surveyors crossed 4,000 fences to confirm this and found, on each occasion, that the grass was greener on the side they had just left. The survey is still in progress, and the surveyors are now several counties from home.

Identification

Colour scientists identify green using the Verdant Method. A sample is held next to a leaf. If the two match, the sample is green. If they do not, the leaf is checked to make sure it is still green, and the sample is sent home.^[2] In autumn the method becomes unreliable and is suspended until the trees have finished deciding.

Green for go

A green light means go. A 2019 study of 11,000 junctions found that drivers go on green 94% of the time. The remaining 6% were waiting to see if it would get any greener.^[3]

• Green with envy: a person who wants something another person has. They do not turn green; if they do, the envy is the second most urgent problem.
• Green fingers: a talent for gardening. Gardeners do not have green fingers. They have brown fingers and a green shed.
• Green as a newcomer: inexperienced. Green has been a colour for millions of years, longer than red, and resents this.

See also

• Blue – half of green, allegedly
• Tree – green until it changes its mind
• Red – the light green disagrees with
• Statue of Liberty – a famous example, once brown
• Teal – a green that is partly blue

References

1. Fenn, C. (2014). The Other Side: Interim Report No. 61. Stile Press.
2. Leafe, O. (2001). “Is It Still Green?” Journal of Checking 4: 1–2.
3. Institute of Junctions (2019). “Go, Mostly”. Amber Publications.