Funky array question

I want to create an array like this: $myArray=array(

    array('orange','A very bright color'),
    array('blue','A nice color like the ocean'),
    array('yellow','Very bright like the sun') ...etc...

) Sort of like a small database in memory. Then I want to compare each of the rows coming out of a MySQL call, which are sentences, against this array to see if the FIRST TERM in each array element is present in the sentence, and then display the SECOND TERM from the array for each sentence. Make sense? So for these two sentences, and the above array, here's how I want it to output: "He used blue paint" - A nice color like the ocean. "The flower was yellow" - Very bright like the sun. Can someone help me out with the code needed to search the sentence to which FIRST TERM appears in it, and retrieve the SECOND TERM? I've tried too many things and now my brain is tied in a knot.