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.
.
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."
|
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.
|
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.
|
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.
|
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.
|
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.
|
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.
|
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.
|
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.
|
|
Some Random Idioms
| |
back-to-back
What does "back-to-back" mean? | something follows immediately after something else, two people touching backs |
There were two back-to-back games today because of the rain last week.
We sat back-to-back during the contest.
|
|
| |
see the color of (someone's) money
What does "see the color of (someone's) money" mean? | to prove that someone has enough money for something | The car dealer would not let me take the car until he saw the color of my money.
|
drum up (something)
What does "drum up (something)" mean? | to encourage something by making an effort | The company was able to drum up a lot of business during the summer.
|
clear up
What does "clear up" mean? | to become sunny |
It stopped raining and cleared up this morning.
|
Some other time
What does "Some other time" mean? | If somebody says they'll do something some other time, they mean at some indefinite time in the future, possibly never, but they certainly don't want to feel obliged to fix a specific time or date. |
|
try one's luck at (something)
What does "try one's luck at (something)" mean? | to try to do something (where success depends on luck) | I decided to try my luck at buying a lottery ticket although I usually never win.
|
|
| |
sweat
What does "sweat" mean? | problem; trouble. | No sweat, I'll get it done.
|
chew the fat with (someone)
What does "chew the fat with (someone)" mean? | to chat with someone |
We stayed up late last night chewing the fat about our university days.
|
free and easy
What does "free and easy" mean? | carefree, informal |
The man's attitude toward his work is free and easy.
|
update
What does "update" mean? | make current; add information to show what has
happened recently. | "I need to update my résumé. Itdoesn't show what I've done during the last year."
|
go steady with (someone)
What does "go steady with (someone)" mean? | to date the same person all the time (usually used for teenagers) | My sister has been going steady with her boyfriend for two years.
|
sweat
What does "sweat" mean? | anxiously await results |
|