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in the red
01
in debt due to spending more than one's earnings
Idiom
What is the origin of the idiom "in the red" and when to use it?
The phrase "in the red" originates from the practice of using red ink to indicate negative amounts or deficits in financial records and accounting ledgers. This idiom is used to describe a financial situation where expenses exceed income, resulting in a negative balance or deficit.
Examples
After months of overspending, the company slipped into the red.
