PhrasesHub

See red

    Definitions

      • become very angry
        To describe someone who is extremely angry or enraged

      • perceive something as a threat
        To interpret a situation as dangerous or threatening, often leading to a heightened emotional response

    Examples of See red

    • The politician's temper flared when she heard the negative comments about her in the media, causing her to see red.

      The idiom "see red" is commonly used to describe an intense rage or anger, as if someone is seeing the color red in front of them. In this example, the politician's anger is so intense that she could literally see the color red.

    • My boss's criticism of my work left me seeing red.

      When someone criticizes us heavily, it can often leave us feeling angry and upset. The idiom "see red" helps to convey the intense emotion we might be feeling in such a situation.

    • The embarrassing situation at the meeting turned my face red with anger.

      When we are angry, it is common for our faces to turn red. The idiom "see red" is sometimes used metaphorically to describe this physical sensation, as if we are seeing the color red all around us.

    • I saw red when my opponent knocked my piece off the board.

      In this example, "see red" is being used in a figurative way to describe a feeling of intense anger or frustration in a competitive situation. When someone loses something important or has their progress undermined, it can lead to a powerful sense of anger or rage, which is often compared to seeing red.

    • Sarah's face turned completely red when her boss criticized her work in front of the entire team. She was so embarrassed that she felt like she wanted to sink through the floor.

      The phrase "see red" is used to describe a strong feeling of anger or embarrassment. In this example, Sarah's face turned red because she felt an intense wave of embarrassment after her boss criticized her work. She felt so embarrassed that she almost lost control of her emotions.

    • Steve's eyes flashed red with fury as he saw his girlfriend kissing another man in a crowded nightclub. He felt his blood boiling with rage, and he knew that he had to teach that guy a lesson.

      In this example, Steve's eyes turned red when he saw his girlfriend kissing another man because he felt a powerful surge of anger. His face flushed with red as his emotions overwhelmed him.

    • The stock market plunged, and investors watched in horror as their portfolios turned into a sea of red. They felt like they were drowning in losses, and they didn't know how to recover from the disaster.

      In this example, the phrase "turned into a sea of red" is used to describe a loss in the stock market. In finance, red often signifies a loss, while green represents a gain. Investors used the phrase "see red" to describe their feelings of disappointment and sadness as their investments slid into the red zone.

    • The referee signaled a red card to the football player, and he knew that he was in trouble. He was so angry that he felt like he wanted to punch the referee in the face.

      In this example, the phrase "seeing red" is used to describe a feeling of intense anger. The football player felt a strong surge of anger after the referee showed him a red card, which meant that he was dismissed from the game. His face flushed with red as his emotions overwhelmed him.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "see red" is used to convey the idea of extreme anger or perceiving something as a threat. When someone "sees red," it means they are very angry or they interpret a situation as dangerous. The phrase is often used to describe someone's emotional state in a given situation, highlighting the intensity of their feelings.

    The idiom is commonly used in informal conversations and can be employed to vividly depict a person's emotional reaction. It is a way to convey a strong emotional response in a concise and visually evocative manner.

    Origin of "See red"

    The origin of the idiom "see red" can be traced back to the physical reaction of the human body when experiencing intense anger or fear. When a person is angry, their blood pressure and heart rate can increase, causing their face to flush and giving the appearance of "seeing red." This physiological response has been associated with anger and aggression, leading to the usage of the idiom to describe extreme anger.

    The association of the color red with danger and aggression also contributes to the origin of the idiom. In nature, many animals interpret the color red as a threat, and this instinctual response has been adopted in human language and culture. The combination of these factors has led to the widespread use of the idiom "see red" to convey intense anger or perceiving a situation as threatening.