in the red
idiom
: spending and owing more money than is being earned
Apparently the company had been in the red for some time before it went out of business.
Examples of in the red in a Sentence
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The company was in the red to the tune of $70 million in the second quarter, but predicted higher unit revenue growth in the third quarter would lay the foundation for a return to profitability in 2026.
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Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2025
This vaporized the harmful metals in the red mud, and left behind a purified compound rich in aluminum.
—New Atlas, 17 Sep. 2025
The Patriots held onto the ball for 15 plays, picking up 71 yards on the drive, but penalties pushed them back 10 yards, and the offense stalled in the red zone.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 16 Sep. 2025
The Chiefs were down three points early in the fourth quarter in the red zone with a chance to take the lead.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for in the red
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Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2025
This vaporized the harmful metals in the red mud, and left behind a purified compound rich in aluminum.
—New Atlas, 17 Sep. 2025
The Patriots held onto the ball for 15 plays, picking up 71 yards on the drive, but penalties pushed them back 10 yards, and the offense stalled in the red zone.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 16 Sep. 2025
The Chiefs were down three points early in the fourth quarter in the red zone with a chance to take the lead.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for in the red
Cite this Entry
“In the red.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20the%20red. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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