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December is a colorful month with Christmas lights and New Years celebration.
The colors of this month are those of Christmas: red, green and white.
At the turn of the Millenium, silver and gold were introduced. Among all of these colors,
red seems to be the brightest one, so we will explore the word 'red' in English. |
 Red in English is not always cheerful. Red is associated with danger or anger.
For example 'red light' means 'stop'. 'Red alert' means 'emergency'. However,
'red-light districts' are areas that are full of prostitutes. Sad but true,
Bangkok is known for its red-light districts. When you 'see red', that means you are angry. |
 Red can be used in money expression. In accounting,
debts are written in red. So 'in the red' means 'in debt' and 'red cent' means 'a little amount of money'. |
 So far, 'red' is used with negative connotations.
It is not as joyful as we think at all. Red is also an insult as in the words 'redskin' and 'redneck'.
However, 'redcoats' just refer to British soldiers because they wear red uniform. It doesn't carry an insult at all. |
 But don't give up hope yet.
Red can be positive even though negative expressions outnumber positive ones.
'Red carpet' means an honor and if you are given a red-carpet treatment, you are treated with respect.
A nutral 'red' expression is 'redbrick' which refers to relatively new British universities,
founded in the 50's. They are so called because they are built in red bricks after the second world war. |
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