General
in the red
What does in the red mean?
Spending more than is earned; the opposite of 'in the black'.
"The new store is still in the red after six months."
Origin
From red ink used for negative figures in accounting ledgers.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'in the red' mean?
It means losing money or spending more than you earn. The opposite is 'in the black', meaning profitable.
Where does 'in the red' come from?
From the old accounting practice of writing negative figures in red ink in ledgers.
How is 'in the red' used?
To describe a business, account, or budget running at a loss, e.g. 'we're still in the red this quarter'.
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