paint black

Idioms and Phrases

Represent someone or something as evil or harmful. This idiom is most often used in a negative context, as in He's not so black as he's been painted . [Late 1500s]

Example Sentences

To make her cheeks red and paint black lines in her eyes; then paint her lips and fingers red—these things hid her.

From Project Gutenberg

No, he puts on his war paint—black suit and top hat most hideous—calls on his lawyer in a frantic passion, and goes to law!

From Project Gutenberg

“Ay, it is none so difficult to paint black white,” saith Aunt Joyce.

From Project Gutenberg

If you cannot paint black cloth you could not have painted silken doublet.

From Project Gutenberg

She does not paint black and white, but with human tints only in light and shadow.

From Project Gutenberg