in black and white
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Meaning · English
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
Where it’s used:
Used
Widespread English
Examples
Let's get this proposal down in black and white before we submit it to the boss.
Perhaps now, now she had finally written it down, could stare at the irretrievable words, written in black and white, she would be able to accept the way things had to be, she would have the strength to return.
British National Corpus sentence via the MAGPIE corpus (CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Listed in Wiktionary’s “English idioms” category (retrieved 2026-07-29); definition pending editorial review.
Equivalents & related
Near equivalent
giấy trắng mực đen
in black and white
Tiếng Việt
Near equivalent
black and white
clear and straightforward
English · via giấy trắng mực đen
Lighter cards are two steps away in the meaning graph — equivalents of equivalents, reached via the entry shown on the card.
Common questions
What does “in black and white” mean?
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
Is “in black and white” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.
What is the closest equivalent?
“giấy trắng mực đen” (Tiếng Việt) — near equivalent.