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

But his poor missed touch-finder against Italy, with the clock in the red and a bonus point a real possibility, may prove costly if France slip up.

From BBC

Futures tied to the Magnificent 7 tech stocks were mostly in the red, though Amazon was the one exception, gaining 0.2% premarket, as the stock looks to break a nine-day losing streak.

From The Wall Street Journal

Both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq composite are in the red for the year.

From The Wall Street Journal

But similar to many rural and community hospitals, it had been operating in the red for years.

From Los Angeles Times

Even with that money, corn growers are expected to be in the red again in 2026, industry estimates show.

From The Wall Street Journal