English Explanatory Dictionary

in the red

English dictionary entry

Meanings

prep_phrase
  1. Having net losses; in debt.

Pronunciation

en-au-in the red.ogg LL-Q1860 (eng)-Naomi Persephone Amethyst (NaomiAmethyst)-in the red.wav En-us-in the red.oga

Word forms

in the red

Etymology

From the standard accounting practice of using red ink to denote negative values, especially a net loss. The first known written use of the phrase is from the "Wise-crack dictionary" (1926) by George H. Maines and Bruce Grant.http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/202000.html

Synonyms

in the hole

Antonyms

in the black
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