Meanings
prepositional phrase
- idiomaticExplicitly, in writing, clearly and without doubt or misunderstanding, without any grey areas.
I'll believe that when I see it in black and white.
- literallyUsing shades of gray rather than color.
This film was shot in black and white.
- Having it displayed using shades of gray rather than color (as it was shot or recorded).
to watch color films in black and white
Translations
Finnish mustaa valkoisella
- mustaa valkoisellaexplicitly
French noir sur blanc, en noir et blanc
- noir sur blancexplicitly
- en noir et blancusing shades of gray
German schwarz auf weiß
- schwarz auf weißexplicitly
Italian nero su bianco
- nero su biancoexplicitly
Polish czarno na białym, w bieli i czerni
- czarno na białymexplicitly
- w bieli i czerniusing shades of gray
Portuguese preto no branco, em preto e branco
- preto no brancoexplicitly
- em preto e brancousing shades of gray
- a preto e brancousing shades of gray
Russian чёрным по белому, чёрно-белый
- чёрным по белому (čórnym po belomu)explicitly
- чёрно-белый (čórno-belyj)using shades of gray
Spanish negro sobre blanco, en blanco y negro
- negro sobre blancoexplicitly
- en blanco y negrousing shades of gray
Swedish svart på vitt, svartvitt
- svart på vittexplicitly
- svartvittusing shades of gray
Vietnamese giấy trắng mực đen
- giấy trắng mực đenexplicitly
Welsh ar ddu a gwyn, mewn du a gwyn
- ar ddu a gwynexplicitly
- mewn du a gwynexplicitly
Cite this entry
APA
in black and white. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/in%20black%20and%20white
MLA
“in black and white.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/in%20black%20and%20white. Accessed November 5, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “in black and white,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/in%20black%20and%20white.
Source: in black and white on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.