black-and-white

/ˌbla-kən-ˈ(h)wīt/ (ame, mw)

black-and-white — adjective

1. made or shown without colour, using only dark, light, and grey tones.

1.形容詞B2
釋義

made or shown without colour, using only dark, light, and grey tones.

例句

Quinn printed the wedding photos in black-and-white for the gallery wall.

in black-and-white for photo printing

The old film looks more mysterious in black-and-white than in colour.

predicative use after linking verb

同義詞
  • monochrome

    more formal and slightly broader; it can describe any one-colour range

  • greyscale

    more technical, especially in digital imaging and printing

反義詞
  • colour

    describes an image shown with a full range of colours

  • full-colour

    emphasises that all colours are shown, not just dark and light tones

文法句型

black-and-white + photo/film/image

be black-and-white

用法筆記

Most often describes photos, films, television, drawings, and printed images. Distinguish from sense 2, which refers to an object's real colours rather than a colour-free image.

常見錯誤

❌I bought a black-and-white photo frame' (when the frame itself has two colours).
✅I bought a black-and-white frame.' / 'I bought a black-and-white photo.
💡this sense is for an image with no colour, not for an object's surface pattern.

2. having both black parts and white parts in its appearance.

2.形容詞B2
釋義

having both black parts and white parts in its appearance.

例句

The shelter found a home for a black-and-white puppy with one blue eye.

black-and-white + animal noun

Mayumi bought a black-and-white scarf to match her winter coat.

black-and-white + clothing noun

同義詞
  • two-tone

    often used for designed objects such as shoes, cars, or furniture

  • marked

    broader and less exact; it only suggests visible colour patches or lines

反義詞
  • solid-coloured

    having one main colour rather than black and white parts

  • colourful

    having many bright colours, not just black and white

文法句型

black-and-white + animal/object noun

be black-and-white

用法筆記

Usually appears with animals, clothes, flags, or patterns on real objects. Distinguish from sense 1, which is about pictures or films that are shown without colour.

常見錯誤

❌I bought a photo of my black-and-white photo.
✅I bought a photo of my black-and-white dog.
💡this sense describes the real colours of the animal or object, not the format of the picture.

3. treating people or situations as completely right or wrong, with no middle posit

3.形容詞B2
釋義

treating people or situations as completely right or wrong, with no middle position.

例句

Padma's black-and-white view of friendship made every small mistake seem final.

black-and-white + view of [topic]

The debate became black-and-white once both sides stopped listening.

become black-and-white

同義詞
  • clear-cut

    can be neutral and focuses on a sharp division

  • either-or

    emphasises two opposite choices with nothing between them

  • simplistic

    more critical; suggests the view is too simple for reality

反義詞
  • nuanced

    shows small differences and recognises more than two sides

  • balanced

    considers more than one side before judging

文法句型

black-and-white + thinking/view/answer

be black-and-white about + noun

用法筆記

Often modifies words like view, thinking, answer, or world. Distinguish from sense 1 and sense 2: this sense is figurative and describes judgment, not visual colour.

常見錯誤

❌The school rule is black-and-white because it was printed clearly.
✅The school rule is black-and-white because it leaves no middle ground.
💡this sense is about a simple either-or judgment, not about writing or printing.