Ah ....  RED !  blood, passion, love, warning, danger, stop, and ... tomatoes.

RED - in heraldry said to signify magnanimity and fortitude, in popular folklore- the colour of magic.  Nowadays it is more often symbolical of anarchy and revolution.

In South Africa, red is the colour of mourning.

In the English War of the Roses, red was the colour of the House of Lancaster.

In Greece, eggs are dyed red for good luck at Easter time.

In China, red is the colour of good luck and is used as a holiday and wedding colour.

In India, red is the symbol for a soldier.

For the ancient Romans, a red flag was a signal for battle.

"a red-letter day" is one of special importance and good fortune.

To "paint the town red" is to celebrate.

To "see red " is to be angry.

A "red eye" is an overnight airplane flight.

"Red Eye" (USA) - cheap whiskey.

A "red herring" is a distraction, something that takes attention away from the real issue.

To catch someone "red-handed" is to catch someone in the act of committing a crime.

"A red rag to a bull" - a source of violent anger to someone.

"red in tooth and claw" - a violent revolutionary who shows no mercy and makes no compromises.

"in the red" - overdrawn at the bank.

"red light" district - a brothel-quarter of a large town.

"red tape"  - official formality.

"Redneck" (USA) - a disparaging term for one of the "uneducated" masses.

"to see the red light" - to recognise approaching danger.

To be shown the "red card" - to be dismissed from one's job - (same origin as the yellow card in football).
 
 

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