Idioms containing RED
TOP words in categories
CATCH (SOMEONE) RED-HANDED
to catch someone in the act of committing some offense
1. The little girl’s mother caught her red-handed trying to steal cookies from the cookie jar.
2. The two men dropped the stolen goods when they heard the police car sirens. They didn’t want to get caught red-handed.
2. The two men dropped the stolen goods when they heard the police car sirens. They didn’t want to get caught red-handed.
GIVE SOMEONE THE RED-CARPET TREATMENT
to give someone the best treatment and show them the finest hospitality
1. The businessmen were given the red-carpet treatment by the small town in the hopes that they would decide it was a good place to build a factory.
2. Please don’t go to any trouble for us when we come to visit. You don’t need to roll out the red carpet.
2. Please don’t go to any trouble for us when we come to visit. You don’t need to roll out the red carpet.
IN THE RED
losing money; not making a profit
1. Many governments operate year after year in the red. They simply keep borrowing money against the taxes they expect to collect in the future.
2. Some years my business makes a profit, but other years I’m in the red.
2. Some years my business makes a profit, but other years I’m in the red.
NOT WORTH A RED CENT
worthless
1. That coupon is expired, so the grocery store won’t accept it. It’s not worth a red cent
2. A telephone directory from thirty years ago isn’t going to help you find what you need. It’s not worth a red cent.
2. A telephone directory from thirty years ago isn’t going to help you find what you need. It’s not worth a red cent.
RED HERRING
smth. used to divert someone’s attention from the real or important issue; smth. used to send a searcher in the wrong direction
1. The newspaper reporters were hot on the trail of a good news story. The man they were pursuing didn’t want to be caught, so he tried to mislead them by throwing them a red herring.
2. The elected officials in congress don’t want the voting public to concentrate on the issue of higher taxes. They divert the public’s attention by constantly raising another, less important issue that is nothing more than a red herring
2. The elected officials in congress don’t want the voting public to concentrate on the issue of higher taxes. They divert the public’s attention by constantly raising another, less important issue that is nothing more than a red herring
RED TAPE
the unnecessary paperwork and procedures of a complicated bureaucracy
1. I try never to ask the government for anything. They are so bogged down in red tape that it takes forever, it just isn’t worth the effort.
2. When my father was rushed to the hospital, the head nurse cut through all the red tape so that he could get to see a doctor immediately.
2. When my father was rushed to the hospital, the head nurse cut through all the red tape so that he could get to see a doctor immediately.
RED-LETTER DAY
an important day; a day to remember
1. Tomorrow is going to be a red-letter day for our school. The president is coming to speak to the students and faculty.
2. Mike was made a vice president of the company yesterday. It certainly was a red-letter day for him.
2. Mike was made a vice president of the company yesterday. It certainly was a red-letter day for him.
SEE RED
to get angry
1. John saw red when his boss tried to make everyone in the office believe that John had made the mistake.
2. My father sees red when I come home late.
2. My father sees red when I come home late.
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