in the red

Idioms  

1. In debt, as in Joshua can't keep track of funds, so half the time his company is in the red. This expression alludes to the bookkeeping practice of marking debits in red ink and credits in black. It survives even in the age of computerized accounts. So does the antonym, in the black, for being financially solvent or out of debt, as in Bill was happy to say they were in the black. [Early 1900s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

in the red

Crowther, an equities trader, became known as the "man in the red bandana" after survivors told stories about a mysterious man wearing one over his nose and mouth.

From Barron's ● Sep. 8, 2026

“The fourth-down stop in the red zone, that’s something that we have spent a lot of time talking about,” Riley said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2026

Tottenham are next at 189.15m euros in the red, followed by Arsenal at 180.95m euros with several days until the transfer window closes on 1 September.

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026

An updated dashboard from Azhar and research analyst Nathan Warren shows how their gauges look now versus a year ago — trouble for the AI boom is looming if two gauges are in the red.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 20, 2026

And the child grew like a young god, for daily Demeter anointed him with ambrosia and at night she would place him in the red heart of the fire.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton