in black and white

in black and white

Meaning

• printed form of a document
• formally, on paper and in writing
• if something is in black and white, it means one has to be correct and second has to be incorrect
• in absolute terms; without shades of grey
• seeing things in absolute extremes
• lacking colours except black and white

Example Sentences

1. Bank demanded in submit the proposal in black and white.
2. My daughter is still very young to understand the shades of grey, she talks in black and white.
3. Capital punishment is not a black and white issue.
4. Please tell me in black and white that you want me to stay in your life or no?
5. Stop looking at things “in black and white“, real life situations do have some grey patches as well.
6. He asked his old mother not to worry as the terms of the hand agreement were spelled out in black and white.
7. This is good to have the agreement in black and white.
8. Kara found black and white photographs of his parents. (Literal example)

Origin

Its first use dates back to the 18^th century civil war of America. Both Blacks and Whites used to consider them as correct and there was a deadlock on every minor to major issue. Every member of the race tries to provide them correct and prove the other one incorrect which lead the formation of the phrase “in black and white”. It means that in real life situation it is not compulsory that one person is right and other person is wrong, maybe both are right at their own place.

Synonyms

• clearly, firmly, frankly, unconditionally, unmistakably, obviously, certainly, definitely, definitively
• on paper, printed, written down, set down,  in print, committed to paper, on record, documented, recorded, clearly/plainly/explicitly defined