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in the red
01
in debt due to spending more than one's earnings
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.
Example
After a series of unexpected expenses, John found his bank account in the red, and he needed to budget carefully to get back on track.
The company's financial statements showed that they were consistently in the red due to declining sales.
Despite efforts to cut costs, the small business remained in the red, and the owners were worried about its survival.
The government's budget was in the red, and they needed to implement measures to reduce the deficit.
The restaurant was struggling to attract enough customers, leading to significant losses, and they were operating in the red.
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