The meaning of paint the town red going out by yourself or with friends, usually to some recreational place in the city, in order to have an enjoyable time. The expression paint the town red is often said to have originated in the country town of melton mobray, england. Asked in english language, word and phrase origins, prefixes suffixes and root. Top synonyms for paint the town other words for paint the town are painting the town, carousing and party.
In the night enjoy cozy meal in the comforts of your vacation rental home or paint the town red with a visit to any one of the fine dining restaurants. There are various opinions of where the phrase originated. He was the 3rd marquess of waterford who lived from 1811 to 1859. This colorful term probably originated on the frontier. There are several suggestions as to the origin of the phrase. Nov 05, 2019 its origin traces to the marquis of waterford, who on a drunken spree with friends, did light vandalism throwing flowerpots, breaking windows, pulling the knockers off doors leading up to painting a statue, some doors, and a tollgate with red paint. A list of slang words and phrases, idioms, jargon, acronyms, and abbreviations. Paint the town red the meaning and origin of this phrase. The allusion is to the kind of unruly behaviour that results in much blood being spilt.
We would love you to wear our teamredlaces vest and redlaces, raise some funds through uk and help us to paint the town red. Definition of paint the town red in the idioms dictionary. Mar 29, 2020 paint the town red to party or celebrate in a rowdy, wild manner, especially in a public place. Paint the town red definition and meaning collins english. Paint the town red definition, a substance composed of solid coloring matter suspended in a liquid medium and applied as a protective or decorative coating to various surfaces, or to canvas or other materials in producing a work of art. Spanish translation of to paint the town red the official collins englishspanish dictionary online. Out celebrating a successful hunt, the marquess of waterford and his hunting party found several tins of red paint which they daubed liberally on to the buildings of the high street, some traces of which can still be seen on doors of older buildings in the town. The debut novel from american pie series screenwriter david h. The morris dictionary of word and phrase origins by william and mary morris states. We are getting all dressed up next week and we are going to paint the town red. Painting the town red is, by definition, a group activity, requiring at least two people, and must be conducted in a spirit of giddy jubilation.
I always understood it to mean to go out as on a weekend nightto town and have fun, get crazy, wild, bar hop or stay out all nightetc. I cant wait to go out with my best friend and paint the town red. In the nineteenth century the section of town where brothels and saloons were located was known as the red light district. The phrase paint the town red most likely owes its origin to one legendary night of drunkenness. This one is about painting the town red, but what does that mean. One of its first uses in print as we know it today was in an 1884 edition of the boston journal. Where does the saying paint the town red come from. Paint the town red definition is to go out drinking, dancing, etc. This could be correct but theres no conclusive evidence to confirm that view. View american english definition of paint the town red.
Paint the town red article about paint the town red by. Where did the phrase paint the town red originate answers. Most early examples of the phrase in print come from the usa. To paint the town red means to celebrate flamboyantly and publicly, especially to go on a wild spree, usually involving multiple bars, restaurants and clubs plus copious quantities of alcohol. The origin of painting the town red comes from the drunken activities of huntmens in melton mowbray. This is the british english definition of paint the town red. Does anyone know the origin of the phrase lets paint the town red. We would love you to wear our teamredlaces vest and red laces, raise some funds through uk and help us to paint the town red. This slang page is designed to explain what the meaning of paint the town red is. Paint the town red definition of paint the town red.
What is the origin of the expression to paint the town red. Various theories include the red from bonfires, the heat from overstoked paddle. Feb 23, 2017 sign in to like videos, comment, and subscribe. What is the origin of the expression to paint the town. After that dinner at macfens he was done forwent wild. Change your default dictionary to american english. This allusion to festive lights illuminating a town was perhaps reinforced by the connotations of energy and excitement attached to the colour red. Dec, 2016 what does the idiom paint the town red mean. The other version of the story says that the origin of this idiom might have originated from the brothels of the american west, where they referred to drunk men behaving as if the whole town was a red light district. Its the last weekend before high school graduation, and as they prepare to go their separate ways, four lifelong friends spend a wild and raucous night in new york city that forces them to face their fear of growing up and growing apart. The one most often repeated, especially within the walls of the melton mowbray tourist office, is a tale dating from 1837. Meaning of americanenglish origin, the colloquial phrase to paint the town red means to enjoy oneself flamboyantly, to go on a boisterous or exuberant spree early instances the earliest instance that i have found is from one of the unconnected paragraphs making up the column the commonwealth, in the courierjournal louisville, kentucky of 3 rd november 1881. Top synonyms for paint the town red other words for paint the town red are party, celebrate and partying. Hey, a new phrase has been added to our collection of sayings.
Its origin traces to the marquis of waterford, who on a drunken spree with friends, did light vandalism throwing flowerpots, breaking windows, pulling the knockers off doors leading up to painting a statue, some doors, and a tollgate with red paint. Aug 11, 2009 this slang page is designed to explain what the meaning of paint the town red is. It is also said that the phrase is relates to an 1837 incident involving the marquis of waterford, who went out drinking with his friends in the english town of melton. Spanish translation of to paint the town red collins.
Jul 12, 2007 the phrase painting the town red is said to have originated in melton back in 1837. Painting the town red definition of painting the town. Meaning of paint the town red to paint the town red means to go out and have a lively good time, to go on a. The expression paint the town red has nothing to do with a girl. Be sure to read up on its definition, and while youre at it, check out its origins too. Jan 22, 2007 so where did paint the town red come from. This colorful term for a wild spree, especially one involving much drinking, probably originated on the frontier. Nearly every man you meet claims to have originated the expression paint the town red. Paint the town red definition of paint the town red by. Originally, the metaphor applied to bonfires painting the sky or. Spend a wild night out, usually involving drinking.
One of its first uses in print as we know it today was in an 1884 edition of the boston journal whenever there was any excitement or anybody got particularly loud, they always said somebody was painting the town red. View american english definition of paint the town red change your default dictionary to american english. The expression, which means to go on a boisterous or riotous spree, originated in the united states, according to the oed. The origins of paint the town red when it comes to the origin of the phrase paint the town red, it may stem from an old tale thats told about henry beresford. There are plenty of suggestions about the phrases origins.
Also, with this expression, its implied that the people having fun are doing so in a loud and garish way. Originally, the metaphor applied to bonfires painting the sky or scenery red. Paint the town red meaning paint the town red meaning. This was their lowest hit ever, and the first not to reach the uk top 40 since white ribbon day. If my memory serves me right after the traditional belvoir fox hunt the drinking and. Learn the history behind these 66 commonly used phrases. In fact, the dictionarys earliest reference is from a boston newspaper in 1884. Bradford is gearing up to paint the town red in celebration of comic relief she added that i should look out for her in london, and when she got there we could paint the town red so, when the opportunity came up to paint the town red last night with simon and a couple of friends i just couldnt say no we were simply there to paint the town red by way of celebration for stuarts birthday. It was released on 10 october 2005 to itunes uk and the two high street music stores virgin and hmv. Back in the old western days it basically meant hook up your wagon, join us and come along. Paint the town red article about paint the town red by the. A liquid mixture, usually of a solid pigment in a liquid vehicle, used as a decorative or protective coating.
The alussion is to the kind of riotous behavior that results in red blood being spilt. It means to get onto your finest clothing and go out on the town. Given an opportunity, they just might break free and paint the town red. To travel from party to party throughout a neighborhood or city.
Where does the phrase paint the town red come from. It was the end of term and students decided to celebrate by painting the town red. To paint the town red is to engage in a riotous spree. Waller, who, in a congratulatory speech at a yale boat crew victory, said. Mar 12, 2009 to paint the town red means to celebrate flamboyantly and publicly, especially to go on a wild spree, usually involving multiple bars, restaurants and clubs plus copious quantities of alcohol. Definition and synonyms of paint the town red from the online english dictionary from macmillan education. The danbury news says, the expression, painting the town red, signifying a jubilee, originated with gov.
Over 100,000 spanish translations of english words and phrases. The one most often repeated, especially within the walls of the melton mowbray tourist office, is a. Jul 09, 2019 there are several suggestions as to the origin of the phrase. Raise the roof and paint the town red, theres cause for celebration. The slang word phrase acronym paint the town red means. This weekend, youre going to go paint the town red, means youre. The expression is american slang meaning to go on a reckless debauch, to be wildly extravagant. One of their biggest acts of vandalism was painting the doors of several homes with red paint. The allusion being made in the expression paint the town red is to the kind of unruly behaviour that results in much blood being spilt. Paint the town red meaning, origin know your phrase. Paint the town red definition of paint the town red by the. Definition and synonyms of paint the town red from the online english dictionary from macmillan education this is the british english definition of paint the town red.
The other version of the story says that the origin of this idiom might have originated from the brothels of the american west, where they referred to drunk men behaving as if the whole town was a redlight district. Paint the town red is a single from and the tenth track on delirious. That is when the marquis of waterford and a group of friends a. The phrase painting the town red is said to have originated in melton back in 1837. It was mostly used by the wagon masters of wagon trains in hoping to get enough wagons to cover both the cost of the trip from st, luis, mo. To paint a town red is, i ought to explain, a western expression, and signifies the height of reckless debauch. What does the does expression paint the town red mean. To paint the town red means to go out and have a lively good time, to go on a drinking spree and visit many bars and nightclubs, to be boisterous and wild.