siː rɛd
Colors
informal
beginner
- Literally:
- to literally see the color red
What does "see red" mean?
to become extremely angry or furious
Examples
- I saw red when I found out someone had keyed my car.
- She sees red every time her boss takes credit for her work.
- Don't mention politics around him — he'll see red.
Origin
Derived from the belief that bulls become enraged by the color red, though bulls are actually colorblind to red. The phrase dates to the early 20th century.
How to use it
Used to describe a sudden surge of intense anger, often implying a loss of self-control.
Similar expressions
lose one's temper
blow a fuse
fly off the handle
Opposites
keep one's cool
stay calm
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 "see red" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.