red carpet

American  

noun

1. a red strip of carpet placed on the ground for high-ranking dignitaries to walk on when entering or leaving a building, vehicle, or the like.

2. 1. an area abutting the entrance to a building, usually carpeted in red, where celebrities gather and walk before participating in or taking their seats at a big event.

      The winning actress had of course been interviewed on the red carpet before the Academy Awards.

   2. the activity that goes on in this area.

      Six reporters will be covering the red carpet at the charity's annual gala.

3. a display of courtesy or deference, as that shown to persons of high station.

   The visiting prince was treated to the red carpet in Rome.

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red carpet British  

noun

1. a strip of red carpeting laid for important dignitaries to walk on when arriving or departing

2. 1. deferential treatment accorded to a person of importance

   2. ( as modifier )

      the returning hero had a red-carpet reception

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red carpet Idioms  

1. Honorary treatment, lavish hospitality, as in We'll have to get out the red carpet for the President's visit. This term comes from the literal practice of rolling out a carpet to welcome a royal or other esteemed guest, and indeed is often put as roll out the red carpet. [Early 1900s]

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Other Word Forms

• red-carpet adjective

Etymology

Origin of red carpet

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

Then again, scroll through Carpenter’s many red carpet snapshots and Miss Piggy’s ever-expanding Instagram feed, and you may recognize the similarities predate the special by several years.

From Salon

But I thought a lot about maybe the pressures that she’s under — even going to the red carpets.

From Los Angeles Times

Other photos from the parade showed Ju Ae striding a red carpet next to her father as he received salutes from North Korea's military top brass.

From Barron's

Earlier on Wednesday, a red carpet was rolled out at Israel's Ben Gurion airport and Modi was greeted with a hug by Netanyahu as he disembarked the plane.

From Barron's

The Prince and Princess of Wales also made an appearance, walking the red carpet before attending the ceremony, in their first public appearance since Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest.

From BBC

Related Words

• welcome mat