roʊl aʊt ðə rɛd ˈkɑːr.pɪt
Colors
neutral
intermediate
- Literally:
- to physically unroll a red carpet on the ground
What does "roll out the red carpet" mean?
- to give someone a very special or royal welcome
- to treat someone with great honor and ceremony
Examples
- The company rolled out the red carpet for the visiting investors from Japan.
- Whenever my mother-in-law visits, I feel like I have to roll out the red carpet.
- The city rolled out the red carpet for the Olympic athletes returning home.
Origin
Red carpets have been used to mark ceremonial routes since ancient Greece. The modern association with celebrity treatment comes from early 20th-century Hollywood premieres and train services.
How to use it
Used when describing an elaborate or grand welcome, sometimes with a slightly humorous or ironic tone.
Similar expressions
give the royal treatment
welcome with open arms
pull out all the stops
Opposites
give the cold shoulder
snub
Related idioms
- black and white
clearly defined with no ambiguity
- silver lining
a positive aspect of an otherwise bad situation
- grey area
a situation or topic that is unclear or not well-defined
- give the green light
to give permission or approval to proceed
- black sheep
a member of a group who is considered different or disreputable
- golden opportunity
an excellent or ideal chance that may not come again
Use it in a practice answer
Try "roll out the red carpet" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.