ɪn ðə rɛd
Money & Finance
neutral
intermediate
- Literally:
- Written in red ink
What does "in the red" mean?
- Operating at a loss; in debt
- Having negative financial balance
Examples
- The company has been in the red for three years.
- My bank account is in the red again.
- They need to cut costs to get out of the red.
Origin
From accounting where red ink was used to record losses and debts, while black ink showed profits.
How to use it
Financial term for loss or debt. Opposite of 'in the black.'
Similar expressions
in debt
losing money
operating at a loss
Opposites
in the black
profitable
in the plus
Related idioms
- pay an arm and a leg
To pay an extremely high price
- make ends meet
To earn just enough money to cover basic expenses
- cost an arm and a leg
To be very expensive
- money doesn't grow on trees
Money is not easily acquired; it must be earned
- break the bank
To cost too much money
- hit the jackpot
To achieve great success or win something valuable
Use it in a practice answer
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