Hey there, this is Teacher Ola Podcast episode 81: 6 Red Idioms You Need To Know.
My name’s Ola and I’ve overcome a massive language blockade myself and now I help you do the same. I’ve been teaching English since 2012. If you want to eliminate your fear of speaking and boost your vocabulary, brush up your grammar, improve your pronunciation, this podcast is for you! Go to my website for full transcripts and worksheets to each episode. Happy learning!
Hello again, welcome back. I’m more than happy we’re doing this together. Today it’s all about building better, broader vocabulary. Active vocabulary bank. Ok, without any further ado, let’s see what’s in today’s episode.
We are going to learn or revise and practise 6 idioms containing the word ‘red’. You’ll learn how to describe anger in a colourful way. There will be a phrase to describe how we behave when we want to greet someone warmly. What is a red hand?
What does it mean to be in the red and in the black? What is the red tape? I’ll tell you what I will most definitely do when the pandemic is finally over.
Next, we’re going to have the practical part where you speak English out loud. Stay till then because it’s the essential part you don’t want to miss. You’re going to hear and repeat 20 sentences with red idioms. Are we ready? Ok, let’s begin with the first red idiom today:
To see red – To be extremely angry. I imagine blood covering your eyes. You’re o angry, the blood vessels explode in your eyes. Explicit image, I’m sorry. Well, bad characters, evil characters, villains in films sometimes have red eyes. Crazy wolves, mad dogs, and other beasts. To see red, to become extremely angry. All in all red colour is more like hell than heaven. Anger. To become extremely angry.
To roll out the red carpet – to give a guest a special treatment. You may encounter a similar phrase: a red-carpet treatment. It’s the same thing. Lavish hospitality, extremely warm welcome. Hearty welcome. In Polish, we use precisely the same phrase, so it should be fairly easy for you to incorporate it in your daily conversations. If you think now, well I do not have any daily conversations. Hm, that’s a shame! You should talk to yourself daily.
If you’re new here and have no idea how or why you should do it go to episode 9 and learn all the benefits of good self-talk. Out loud. But that’s a given, right? Talk to yourself out loud on a daily basis.
To catch somebody red-handed – to find someone in the act of doing something illegal. Doing something wrong. Committing a crime. Gorący uczynek. You can connect it. hot, red, red-handed, cool. Moving on to:
To be in the red – to owe money to your bank because you have spent more than you have in your account, you are in the red. And when you pay the bank off, you’re out of the red. In other words, in the black. So you want to be in the black. You don’t want to be in the red. Do you know the origins of those phrases? Why red, why black?
The expression ‘in the red’ derives from the practice of using red ink to denote debt or losses on financial balance sheets. Likewise, businesses that are debt-free are described as ‘in the black’.
Red tape – red tape is bureaucracy. These are official rules that seem unnecessary and instead of easing the work, the procedures they only prevent things from being done quickly and easily. They’re needlessly time-consuming and overcomplex.
To paint the town red – it means to take part in a wild celebration or drinking spree. To go out drinking, dancing. To enjoy yourself in bars and clubs. Believe me, this is not my version of spending time, but when the restrictions are lifted, I will paint the town red. Believe you me.
This was the sixth and final red idiom of today. Now, the practical part. Let’s jump right to it. Listen, retain and repeat out loud.
The thought of them together had made her see red.
People who drop litter make me see red.
I immediately saw red and wanted to prove him wrong.
We will continue to roll out the red carpet for all our members.
Time to roll out the red carpet.
It was so exciting – they rolled out the red carpet for us everywhere we went.
Since Ann is their only child, they give him the red-carpet treatment whenever she returns home from college.
I don’t expect the red-carpet treatment or anything, but it would be nice to be greeted with a little more enthusiasm than that!
Earl was caught red-handed taking the money.
The FBI caught the mayor red-handed using drugs.
He was caught red-handed, he didn’t even try to explain himself.
My account is $100 in the red
Don’t count on him, he’s in the red, he won’t contribute.
My son’s bank account is usually in the red.
The new rules should help cut the red tape for entrepreneurs.
What annoyed me most was the red tape.
The only way to get this project off the ground is to cut through the red tape.
Tonight we’re going to paint the town red.
I don’t feel like painting the town red tonight because I think I’m getting sick.
I can’t wait to go out with my best friend and paint the town red!
Well done. Now, let’s see what red idioms have you learnt or revised or just practised today. We had:
To see red
To roll out the red carpet
To catch somebody red-handed
To be in the red
Red tape
To paint the town red
Here you have it! 6 red idioms. Now it’s time for homework. Download the worksheet. Practice translating Polish sentences into English. The worksheet is available at teacherola.com/79. While you’re there scroll it all the way down and leave a comment. Tell me which red idiom you remember best from the whole episode? Let m know. You can always contact me if you have any questions or suggestions at contact@teacherola.com. You’re free to DM me on Instagram where I hang out quite often.
Share this episode with someone you think might need it. I would love this podcast to reach people who feel blocked when it comes to speaking English.
Next week we’re going to explain song lyrics. Ame Whinehouse! See you next Wednesday. Till then have a great, fearless week. Remember to say it out loud! Happy learning bye-bye!