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Red-light district
01
an area in a city or town that is filled with strip clubs, brothels, and other sex oriented businesses
Idiom
Informal
Grammatical Information
Animacy status
Inanimate
Composition
Compound
Countable
Plural form
red-light districts
What is the origin of the idiom "red-light district" and when to use it?
The idiom "red-light district" originated in the late 19th century, primarily in reference to the districts in major cities where brothels and other adult entertainment establishments were concentrated. The term is believed to have originated from the practice of using red gas lamps to signify the locations of brothels. These red lights were used as a signal to indicate the presence of such establishments.
Examples
The hotel was cheap because it sat on the edge of the red-light district.
