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to go out and party wildly, celebrating with energy and enthusiasm
What does "to paint the town red" mean?
The phrase "to paint the town red" means to go out and celebrate in a lively, often wild way, usually involving partying, drinking, or nightlife activities. The structure is metaphorical, using "paint" and "red" to suggest energetic, uncontrolled celebration that "colors" the city with excitement. It is an older idiom that has remained in use to describe a night of intense social enjoyment. The origin of "to paint the town red" is not fully settled, but it is often linked to 19th-century England. One popular story involves the Marquis of Waterford and his companions in the 1830s, who allegedly vandalized parts of Melton Mowbray during a drunken night out.
