I share 24 idioms for color red, providing meanings and examples. I will cover idioms such as “red herring,” which means a misleading clue, and “paint the town red,” signifying wild celebration.
You’ll also find idioms like “red tape,” referring to bureaucratic delays, and “red flag,” a warning sign. Some idioms combine red with other colors, like “green around the gills, red with fever,” describing someone looking sick and feverish.
These idioms will enrich your knowledge of English figurative language and enhance your expression skills. Let’s dive into the world of red idioms.
list of 24 idioms for red
- Red Herring
- Paint the Town Red
- Red Tape
- Red Flag
- Caught Red-Handed
- Red As a Beetroot
- Red Alert
- Red-Letter Day
- Red in the Face
- Red Carpet Treatment
- Seeing Red
- Red Ink
- Red as a Lobster
- Red-Faced
- Red-Eye
- Red Rag to a Bull
- Red and Green Light
- Green Around the Gills, Red with Fever
- Green-Eyed Monster
- Red and Green Season
- In the Red
- In the Black
- Red and Black Account
- Red Ink and Black Balance
Best Idioms for Red
Red Herring
Meaning: Misleading clue
Example: The detective ignored the red herring and found the real culprit.
Paint the Town Red
Meaning: Celebrate wildly
Example: We decided to paint the town red after our exams ended.
Red Tape
Meaning: Bureaucratic delays
Example: The project got delayed due to red tape in the approval process.
Red Flag
Meaning: Warning sign
Example: His sudden change in behavior raised a red flag for his friends.
Caught Red-Handed
Meaning: Caught in the act
Example: She was caught red-handed stealing the money.
Red As a Beetroot
Meaning: Extremely embarrassed
Example: He turned red as a beetroot when his mistake was pointed out.
Red Alert
Meaning: High alert
Example: The city was on red alert due to the incoming storm.
Red-Letter Day
Meaning: Memorable day
Example: The day I graduated was a red-letter day in my life.
Red in the Face
Meaning: Angry or embarrassed
Example: He was red in the face after being called out.
Red Carpet Treatment
Meaning: Special treatment
Example: The guests received the red carpet treatment at the event.
Seeing Red
Meaning: Very angry
Example: She was seeing red when she heard about the betrayal.
Red Ink
Meaning: Financial losses
Example: The company is struggling with red ink this quarter.
Funny Idioms for Red
Red as a Lobster
Meaning: Sunburned
Example: After a day at the beach, he was red as a lobster.
Red-Faced
Meaning: Embarrassed
Example: He was red-faced when he forgot his lines.
Red-Eye
Meaning: Overnight flight
Example: I took the red-eye to get to the meeting on time.
Red Rag to a Bull
Meaning: Provoking someone
Example: Criticizing his work is like a red rag to a bull.
Idioms for Red and Green
Red and Green Light
Meaning: Approval and denial
Example: We got the red light for the project, but the green light for the budget.
Green Around the Gills, Red with Fever
Meaning: Looking sick and feverish
Example: He looked green around the gills and red with fever.
Green-Eyed Monster
Meaning: Jealousy
Example: The red dress made her the target of the green-eyed monster.
Red and Green Season
Meaning: Christmas
Example: The decorations signify the red and green season.
Idioms for Red and Black
In the Red
Meaning: Financial loss
Example: The company is in the red this fiscal year.
In the Black
Meaning: Financial gain
Example: After years of loss, we are finally in the black.
Red and Black Account
Meaning: Financial health
Example: Balancing red and black accounts is crucial for business success.
Red Ink and Black Balance
Meaning: Losses and profits
Example: The report shows red ink and black balance figures.
What are common idioms using the color red?
Common idioms include “red herring” for a misleading clue and “paint the town red” for celebrating wildly. These expressions enhance our language with vivid imagery.
How do idioms involving red relate to emotions?
Idioms like “seeing red” for anger and “red-faced” for embarrassment use the color red to convey strong emotions. They add depth to our expressions and communication.
Can idioms combine red with other colors?
Yes, idioms like “green around the gills, red with fever” show how different colors can describe complex states. These combinations enrich our descriptive language.
