see red

Cultural  

1. To be or become extremely angry: “When Roger realized that he had been duped, he started to see red.”

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see red Idioms  

1. Become very angry, as in I saw red when I learned they had not invited Tom and his family. The precise allusion in this term is not known, but it probably refers to the longstanding association of the color red with passion and anger. [Colloquial; c. 1900]

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Example Sentences

This breakthrough may finally explain why astronomers rarely see red supergiants explode, even though models predict they should account for most core-collapse supernovae.

From Science Daily • Oct. 9, 2025

The researchers decided to focus on what New York University philosopher Ned Block has termed “phenomenal consciousness,” or the subjective quality of an experience—what it is like to see red or feel pain.

From Science Magazine • Aug. 22, 2023

I see red flags aplenty here — I hadn’t even mentioned Rebecca’s “Sometimes shiny things can tarnish” line — and I’m not sure that any level of love-blindness will ultimately turn them green.

From New York Times • Apr. 26, 2023

This is the kind of betrayal that will make him see red.

From Salon • Jan. 23, 2023

I don’t relent until a police car pulls up, until I see red and blue lights flashing against the wall.

From "Warcross" by Marie Lu

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