R for Red

Language of Red:

The use of red in familiar phrases can help a designer see how their color of choice might be perceived by others — both the positive and negative aspects.

Good red

• Red letter day – important or significant occasion
• Red carpet treatment – make someone feel special, treat them as if they are a celebrity
• Roll out the red carpet – same as above
• Red sky in the morning, sailor’s warning; red sky at night, sailor’s delight – pay attention to good and bad warning signs
• Paint the town red – celebrate, go out partying
• Red eye – an overnight flight

Bad red

• Seeing red – to be angry
• Red herring – something that deceives or distracts attention from the truth
• In the red – being overdrawn at the bank or losing money
• Red flag – denotes danger, warning, or an impending battle

Red Words: These words are synonymous with red or represent various shades of the color red.

Scarlet, crimson, vermillion, carmine, maroon, burgundy, ruby, rose, madder, rouge, brick, blood red, blush, fire engine red, cinnabar, russet, rust, Venetian red, flame, Indian red, tomato.