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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Two-edged sword
What does "Two-edged sword" mean? | If someone uses an argument that could both help them and harm them, then they are using a two-edged sword sword; it cuts both ways. |
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air one`s dirty linen in public
What does "air one`s dirty linen in public" mean? | to discuss one`s private quarrels or problems in the presence of others | The man does not like his wife to air his dirty linen in public when they are with friends.
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wear several hats
What does "wear several hats" mean? | to have more than one set of responsibilities |
Our teacher wears several hats. She is the head of the school board as well as the coach of the swim team.
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walk arm-in-arm (with someone)
What does "walk arm-in-arm (with someone)" mean? | to walk with one's arms linked with someone else |
The two girls walked arm-in-arm down the street.
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a copycat
What does "a copycat" mean? | someone who copies another person`s work or actions | The little boy was accused of being a copycat by the other children.
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no skin off one`s nose
What does "no skin off one`s nose" mean? | to be of no concern/trouble/interest to someone | It is no skin off my nose whether or not she comes to the party.
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those three little words
What does "those three little words" mean? | the words "I love you" | the words "I love you"After several months of dating the young man finally said those three little words to his girlfriend.
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Gloves are off
What does "Gloves are off" mean? | When the gloves are off, people start to argue or fight in a more serious way.
('The gloves come off' and 'take the gloves off' are also used. It comes from boxing, where fighters normally wear gloves so that they don't do too much damage to each other.) |
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tapped out
What does "tapped out" mean? | tired; fatigued; exhausted |
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