| 1. | a red strip of carpet placed on the ground for high-ranking dignitaries to walk on when entering or leaving a building, vehicle, or the like. |
| 2. | a display of courtesy or deference, as that shown to persons of high station: The visiting princess was treated to the red carpet in Rome. |
| red carpet n. A carpet laid down for important visitors. |
red carpet
Honorary treatment, lavish hospitality, as in We'll have to get out the red carpet for the President's visit. This term comes from the literal practice of rolling out a carpet to welcome a royal or other esteemed guest, and indeed is often put as . [Early 1900s]