green light

green light

1. verb To permit someone or something to proceed. Likened to the green light of a traffic signal. Do you think the production company will green light our film?
2. noun Permission to proceed with some action or task. We're just waiting to get the green light from our managers before we release the latest software update.
See also: green, light
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

green light, the

Permission to go ahead, as in The chief gave us the green light for starting this project. This term originated in the late 1800s for the signal used by railroads to indicate that a train could proceed. It was transferred to more general use in the first half of the 1900s.
See also: green
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

green light

permission to go ahead with a project.
The green light referred to is the traffic signal indicating that traffic is free to move forward. Red and green lights were in use from the late 19th century in railway signals, but this figurative use of green light appears to date from the mid 20th century.
1997 New Scientist Zemin even got the green light to buy nuclear power plants.
See also: green, light
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

green light

n. the signal to go ahead with something; the okay. (see also go-ahead, high sign.) When we get the green light, we’ll start.
See also: green, light
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • green light, the
  • green light, get/give the
  • get the green light
  • give somebody/get the green light
  • give someone/something the green light
  • give (one) the green light
  • be green about the gills
  • green about the gills
  • green as grass
  • (as) green as grass
References in periodicals archive
Motorists and cyclists risk being arrested and penalised if they use the road while the green light is on.
Sonko's new digital pedestrian crossing to tame rogue motorists
"If the button is pressed and the system senses the presence of pedestrians, the green light will be given to the pedestrians, but the green light duration of the pedestrians will not be fixed.
Modern techniques for pedestrian crossing implemented
There are homes currently being built by Davidsons, Barratt and David Wilson Homes as well as Bellway and Warwickshire County Council has also been given the green light to build homes on land off Eastboro Way.
Homes plan for site of former aquatics business; DEVELOPERS HOPING FOR GREEN LIGHT TO BUILD 59 RESIDENCES
Audi AG, a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG (Xetra: VW), is launching a new technology called Green Light Optimised Speed Advisory that is intended to make idling at red lights a thing of the past.
Audi to launch Green Light Optimised Speed Advisory
A local source in Diyala told the National Iraqi News Agency (NINA) that the security leaders gave the green light to the army forces in holding the land in Khanaqin countryside northeast of Baquba.
Two combat regiments will be deployed in the Khanaqin countryside in Diyala
In a statement, the NDC said the composite index of monitoring indicators for July stood at 27 to vault the economy from a yellow-blue light into the green light category, which ranges between 23 and 31.
Taiwan economy shows signs of stable growth in July
Harvard researchers conducted an experiment comparing the effects of 6.5 hours of exposure to blue light with exposure to a green light of comparable brightness.
WHAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW
Solar PV company JinkoSolar Holding Co Ltd (NYSE:JKS) said on Thursday that it has entered into an agreement for the supply of 275.4 MWdc of high efficiency modules to Green Light Contractors Pty Ltd.
JinkoSolar announces delivery of solar modules in South Australia
Green Light Development is proposing to transform the former Vivian apartment building, at 1 N.E.
Burnside bridgehead still booming
Officer David Dowling, the lead investigator, said in his report that video from a nearby security camera shows Williams legally entered the intersection from a road exiting her gated neighborhood on a green light.
Venus Williams, other driver cleared in fatal crash
CELTIC are considering a loan swoop for Chelsea kid Kyle Jameson - after Olivier Ntcham got the green light for his big-money move to Parkhead.
Bren eyes move for Chelsea kid Kyle; Celts eye Chelsea kid Kyle
The former Growling Tiger from University of Santo Tomas added he doesn't necessarily have the green light to shoot from deep, he went 5-of-11 from rainbow country, but his teammates encourage him to take the open shots he gets.
Career-high 'doesn't count' for Ferrer in Ginebra loss to Alaska
While the move does not rubber-stamp the takeover - with the club still awaiting the green light from the Football League and Premier League - the limited company on Companies House brings it closer.
Villa deal a step closer
This will give the green light so developers and councils can lift restrictions on areas of protected countryside usually safeguarded from development.
Green land planning rules