English Explanatory Dictionary

red sky at night, sailors' delight; red sky at morning, sailors take warning

English dictionary entry

Meanings

proverb
  1. A red sky at dusk usually indicates a high atmospheric pressure system from the west, denoting stable weather, whereas a red sky at dawn usually indicates a low atmospheric pressure system from the west, denoting unstable weather.

Word forms

red sky at night, sailors' delight; red sky at morning, sailors take warning red sky at night sailors' delight; red sky at morning sailors take warning red sky at night, sailors' delight; red sky in the morning, sailors take warning red sky at night, shepherds' delight; red sky at morning, shepherds' warning red sky at night, shepherds' delight; red sky in the morning, shepherds' warning pink sky at night, sailors' delight; pink sky at morning, sailors take warning pink sky at night, sailors' delight; pink sky in the morning, sailors take warning red sky at night, sailors' delight; red sky at morn, sailors forlorn red sky at night, sailors' delight; red sky in the morn, sailors forlorn

Etymology

A maritime phrase used for at least two millennia, likely as a shortening of Matthew 16:2b–3: "When it is evening, you say, "It will be fair weather; for the sky is red." And in the morning, "It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening." You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times."

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