General
scarlet
What does scarlet mean?
Mortified beyond saving. Not mildly embarrassed — full beetroot, want-the-ground-to-swallow-you embarrassed. Usually said about yourself or, more savagely, at someone else as a roast.
"I tripped up the steps in front of him, I was scarlet."
Origin
From the literal scarlet-red of a blushing face. Pure Dublin, and immortalised in the phrase 'scarlet for your ma' — i.e. so embarrassing your mother would blush on your behalf.
Frequently asked questions
What does scarlet mean in slang?
It means mortified — cringing-into-the-floor embarrassed.
How do you use scarlet in a sentence?
"I was scarlet when I tripped in front of everyone."
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