paint the town red

1. To go carousing: “Arnie and a few of his buddies drove off in a big car Friday night and really painted the town red.”

Idioms and Phrases

Go on a spree, as in Whenever they go to New York they want to paint the town red. The precise allusion of this term is disputed. Some believe it refers to setting something on fire; others point to a vague association of the color red with violence. [Late 1800s]

Example Sentences

Paint the Town Red singer Doja Cat will close the festival on Sunday night, with organisers promising a "mind-blowing weekend full of show-stopping moments".

From BBC

Her most recent album, “Scarlet,” was an edgier turn from her recent sleek pop, with barbed singles like “Paint the Town Red,” “Attention” and “Agora Hills.”

From Los Angeles Times

And Doja red, devil Doja — it’s so funny because of Doja’s “Paint the Town Red” lyrics.

From Los Angeles Times

Paint the Town Red, which samples Dionne Warwick's Walk On By, was expected to make it onto the record of the year list but only managed the best pop performance category.

From BBC

Sza’s smooth R&B “Good Days,” and later rapper Doja Cat’s “Paint The Town Red,” blares in the background.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• honor 
• laud 
• observe 
• perform 
• praise 
• proclaim 
• revere