This
database is a comprehensive collection of all the American idioms and slang available.
American Idioms are many and varied. We hope you enjoy our collection. We are adding more all the time.
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In the red
What does In the red mean? | To be losing money. | Putting kids through college is sure to put you in the red.
Standard practice for accounting is to record positive numbers in black ink and negative numbers in red ink. Operating "in the red" is to record negative numbers, that is to say losses.
No doubt red ink was chosen because it is a clear contrast for black and is not easily mistaken. However there is a bit more history to the red ink.
In medieval times the church, being the only center of literacy and learning in the west, maintained meticulous accounting records. Ink was rare and expensive. When monasteries and far-flung churches had little money and they could not afford ink, domesticated animals were bled to provide a substitute in the dipping wells. As a result, poor financial records were usually written "in the red. |
in the red
What does in the red mean? | unprofitable; showing a financial loss. | "We have to do something to increase profit anddecrease losses.We've been in the red for two months in a row."
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in the red
What does in the red mean? | lose money, not make a profit | The company has been in the red for three years now.
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in the red
What does in the red mean? | to be losing money, to be unprofitable | The company has been in the red since the price of oil began to rise rapidly.
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in the red
What does in the red mean? | to be in debt, to be unprofitable | The company has been in the red for three years now.
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in the red
What does in the red mean? | to be unprofitable, to be losing money, to be in debt | The company has been in the red for several months now and will soon go bankrupt.
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in the red
What does in the red mean? | to be losing money, to be unprofitable |
The company has been in the red since the price of oil began to rise rapidly.
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in the red
What does in the red mean? | to be in debt, to be unprofitable |
The company has been in the red for three years now.
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in the red
What does in the red mean? | losing money, not making a profit |
The company has been in the red for three years now.
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in the red
What does in the red mean? | to be unprofitable, to be losing money, to be in debt |
The company has been in the red for several months now and may soon go bankrupt.
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Some Random Idioms
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put the bite on (someone)
What does "put the bite on (someone)" mean? | to ask someone for money or favors | He is always trying to put the bite on his friends to collect money for charity.
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abide by a decision
What does "abide by a decision" mean? | to follow the orders that a court or judge has given |
The company was forced to abide by the decision of the judge.
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in a way
What does "in a way" mean? | to a certain extent, a little, somewhat | In a way I want to go to the restaurant but basically I don`t care.
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get across (something) to (someone) or get (something) across to (someone)
What does "get across (something) to (someone) or get (something) across to (someone)" mean? | to explain or say something so that someone can understand it |
It was difficult to get across the importance of the school safety rules to the children.
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a match for (someone)
What does "a match for (someone)" mean? | equal to someone in a contest | The German soccer team was a match for the Brazilian team.
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Fast and furious
What does "Fast and furious" mean? | Things that happen fast and furious happen very quickly without stopping or pausing. |
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have a crush (on someone)
What does "have a crush (on someone)" mean? | have strong feelings of love for someone (often for a short
time and with no results) | have strong feelings of love for someone (often for a short time and with no results)The young girl had a crush on her teacher in junior high school but of course it was an impossible situation.
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rain (something) out
What does "rain (something) out" mean? | to spoil something by raining | The music festival was rained out yesterday evening.
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cut a fine figure
What does "cut a fine figure" mean? | to look good, to dress well |
The man cut a fine figure when he entered the dining room.
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