black-and-white

Thân thiện

The artist creates a black-and-white drawing of a cat.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Lacking color; using only shades of black, white, and gray: Describes images, photographs, films, or displays that do not have color.
   • Divided into clear-cut, mutually exclusive opposites: Describes a situation, issue, or perspective that is seen in absolute terms, without any intermediate positions or nuances.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective (Lacking Color):

  • My grandfather still watches his old black-and-white television.
  • The photographer chose black-and-white film to give the portrait a classic feel.
  • The documentary contains historic black-and-white footage.

• Adjective (Clear-Cut, Absolute):

  • He has a very black-and-white view of morality; for him, actions are either completely right or completely wrong.
  • The issue is more complex than a simple black-and-white choice.
  • Her thinking is too black-and-white to understand the subtlety of the argument.

Advanced Usage

• "in black and white": This phrase is often used to mean something is in writing or print, providing clear, unambiguous evidence.
  • I need to see the contract in black and white before I agree.
  • The rules are there in black and white for everyone to read.

Variants and Related Words

• Monochrome (adj/n): Technically similar to 'black-and-white' in the visual sense, meaning using only one color or shades of one color (often black, white, and gray).
  • She prefers monochrome photography.
• Binary (adj): Related to the 'clear-cut' meaning, describing something composed of or involving two parts; an either/or situation.
  • The debate was framed in a binary way: for or against.

Synonyms

• For 'lacking color': Monochromatic, grayscale.
• For 'clear-cut': Absolute, categorical, unequivocal, polarized, dualistic.

Related Phrases

• See things in black and white: To view situations in simple terms of right and wrong, good and bad, without recognizing complexity.
  • As a judge, you cannot afford to see things in black and white; you must consider all the circumstances.

Related Idioms

• Black and white: Used as a noun phrase to refer to something that is clearly defined or documented.
  • It's not just a rumor; it's there in black and white.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. of a situation that is sharply divided into mutually exclusive categories
   • he rejected a black-and-white world
   • there are no black-and-white certainties
   • there were no grey areas, you were either for him or against him, he was all black-and-white
2. not having or not capable of producing colors
   • black-and-white film
   • a black-and-white TV
   • the movie was in black and white
3. lacking hue or shades of grey; part white and part black
   • a black-and-white cow
   • black-and-white blooms
   • black-and-white stripes

Từ đồng nghĩa

• black and white