Reading Theme:
Red Meaning, Examples, and Common Idioms (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：having the color red (red)
red
/red/
adj.
Having the color of blood, fire, or ripe strawberries.
having the color red
➕
/ˈhævɪŋ ðə ˈkʌlər red/
adj.
Describes an object or substance that reflects wavelengths of light between approximately 620–750 nm, associated with blood, fire, and strawberries.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Proto-Indo-European '*h₁rewdʰ-' via Old English 'rēad', meaning red.
💡 Mnemonic
Think of a red stop sign: 'red' signals stop, danger, passion. Easy to remember.
📖 Example
She picked a perfectly red apple from the tree.
She picked a perfectly red apple from the tree.
🔗 Collocations
red wine – wine made from dark-colored grapes
red carpet – a strip of red cloth for welcoming important guests
red flag – a warning sign or symbol
🔄 Synonyms
🚫 Antonyms
🌱 Derivatives
📖 Cultural Story
From Indo-European *h₁rewdʰ-, red appears in Latin 'ruber' and Greek 'erythros'. Culturally, it symbolizes danger, love, and revolution worldwide.
Meaning 2：in the red (red)
red
/red/
adj.
Describes a financial situation where expenses are greater than income, indicating a loss or debt.
in the red
➕
/ɪn ðə red/
adj.
Indicates a financial situation where expenses exceed revenue, resulting in a loss, often recorded in red ink.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
The small business went red in its first year, but they had expected this initial loss.
The small business went red in its first year, but they had expected this initial loss.
🔗 Collocations
in the red – operating at a loss
go red – to become unprofitable
red ink – financial losses
🔄 Synonyms
unprofitable (adj.) – not yielding profit
deficit (n.) – an excess of expenditure over income
insolvent (adj.) – unable to pay debts
🚫 Antonyms
in the black (adj. phrase) – operating profitably
profitable (adj.) – yielding financial gain
solvent (adj.) – able to pay debts
Wordbook
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