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UKin / into the red
/ɪn ˌɪntʊ ðə ɹˈɛd/
/ɪn ˌɪntʊ ðə ɹˈɛd/in / into the red
[PHRASE]
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
1. As soon as we arrived in the red room, I became quiet again, and the two servants both started scolding me.
2. And so I spent that whole long afternoon in the red room asking myself why I had to suffer and why life was so unfair.
3. 'Yes, you became ill in the red room, but you'll get better, don't worry, Miss Jane,' she answered.
4. Fortunately I suffered no serious illness as a result of my terrible experience in the red room, although I shall never forget that night.
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