CEFR A2
golden
adjective
Meaning
Having the color of gold; or, very good, beautiful, or valuable.
Examples
- The leaves turned a beautiful golden color in the autumn.
- She has a golden voice that captivates audiences.
Synonyms: yellow, shiny, brilliant, precious
Phrases for golden
Natural phrases and collocations with golden. See examples, avoid awkward combinations, and learn how to use golden in context. Having the color of gold; or, very good, beautiful, or valuable.
Color and light
Having the warm yellow color of gold or warm sunlight.
- golden brown (color phrase): Cooked or colored to a warm brown-yellow shade.
Bake the bread until the crust is golden brown.
- golden hair (noun phrase): Hair with a warm yellow-blond color.
The child had long golden hair.
- golden glow (noun phrase): A warm, yellow light.
The sunset cast a golden glow across the water.
- golden light (noun phrase): Warm yellow sunlight, especially near sunrise or sunset.
Photographers waited for the soft golden light.
Value and opportunity
Exceptionally useful, valuable, favorable, or important.
- golden opportunity (fixed phrase): An unusually good chance to do or achieve something.
The internship was a golden opportunity to gain experience.
- golden chance (noun phrase): A very promising opportunity.
They missed a golden chance to equalize.
- golden rule (fixed phrase): A very important principle to follow.
The golden rule is to treat others as you wish to be treated.
- golden ticket (figurative noun): Something that provides access to a special opportunity.
The scholarship became her golden ticket to university.
Successful periods and rewards
A period remembered as especially successful, or a valuable benefit given to someone.
- golden age (fixed phrase): A period of exceptional success or achievement.
The 1920s were a golden age for radio.
- golden era (noun phrase): A highly successful or admired period.
Fans still talk about the club’s golden era.
- golden years (idiomatic phrase): The later years of life, especially retirement.
They moved closer to the coast for their golden years.
- golden handshake (business idiom): A large payment made when a senior employee leaves a job.
The outgoing director received a generous golden handshake.
Sentence frames
- a golden + opportunity/chance/ticket: Use golden figuratively for an unusually valuable opportunity.
This is a golden chance to introduce the product overseas.
- the golden age/era of + noun: Use this for the most successful period of an activity or industry.
The exhibition explores the golden age of travel.
- turn/cook/bake until golden brown: Use this common cooking frame for the desired color.
Fry the onions until they are golden brown.