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Glite Dictionary
to get the greenlight

to get the greenlight

3.5
To receive official permission to start or continue a project
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : recibir luz verde
  • The team can't start construction until they get the greenlight from the city council.

Examples

  • Before we can launch the product, we need to get the greenlight from upper management.

  • After months of waiting, the filmmakers finally got the greenlight for the new movie.

  • We finally got the greenlight for the new project!

  • Did you get the greenlight from the manager?

  • The team finally got the greenlight to start their new marketing campaign after months of planning.

  • After a thorough review, the board decided to give the project the greenlight for development.

  • We were excited when the city granted us the greenlight for our community garden initiative.

Synonyms

to get the nod
vsto get the greenlight
6 5.3

To receive approval to start or continue something

is official approval to begin or continue a project or activity

Antonyms

to refuse
716 1.7

To say no to a request or offer

red light
2 1.7

A warning that something is wrong and you should stop or be careful

How Authorized

authorized
1 3.6
to get the greenlight
3.5
consent
  • Formal
344 3.2

Surface Forms

get the greenlight infinitive
getting the greenlight present participle
gets the greenlight third person singular
got the greenlight past
got the greenlight past participle

Morphology

get + the + greenlight

The meaning 'to receive official approval' is directly derivable from combining 'get' (to receive) with 'green light' (a signal meaning permission or 'go'), which is a common traffic-light metaphor familiar across many languages. Because the phrase follows a transparent compositional pattern and relies on widely known imagery, a B1 learner who knows the constituent words is likely to infer the intended meaning.

Etymology

Get the greenlight may come from traffic lights, where a green light tells drivers to go. So to get the greenlight means to receive permission or 'approval' to start a project.