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Full Idea
If a decorator says that they used four colours to decorate a house, four tropes is not what was meant, and the statement seems to view colours as universals.
Gist of Idea
In 'four colours were used in the decoration', colours appear to be universals, not tropes
Source
J.P. Moreland (Universals [2001], Ch.3)
Book Ref
Moreland,J.P.: 'Universals' [Acumen 2001], p.72
A Reaction
Although I am suspicious of using language to deduce ontology, you have to explain why certain statements (like this) are even possible to make.