paint the town red

To go carousing: “Arnie and a few of his buddies drove off in a big car Friday night and really painted the town red.”

Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

Go on a spree, as in Whenever they go to New York they want to paint the town red . The precise allusion of this term is disputed. Some believe it refers to setting something on fire; others point to a vague association of the color red with violence. [Late 1800s]

Related Words

Word of the Day

April 24, 2024gallimaufry

[gal-uh-maw-free ]

Meaning and examples

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

paint stripper paintwork

Browse