Synonyms

in the red

Idioms

In debt, as in Joshua can't keep track of funds, so half the time his company is in the red. This expression alludes to the bookkeeping practice of marking debits in red ink and credits in black. It survives even in the age of computerized accounts. So does the antonym, in the black, for being financially solvent or out of debt, as in Bill was happy to say they were in the black. [Early 1900s]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Futures in all three main indexes on Wall Street were in the red, after they had enjoyed a strong run-up Wednesday.

From Barron's

The young girl in the red parka gave a quick nod of understanding.

From Literature

I wondered if it was the same wren I had seen in the red oak tree.

From Literature

He spread risk across several sub-bets, structured so he landed in the red only if spending declined by more than $50 billion.

From The Wall Street Journal

But his poor missed touch-finder against Italy, with the clock in the red and a bonus point a real possibility, may prove costly if France slip up.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023