ENGLISH
REFERENCE

Red Baron

idiom
Meaning

A hotshot fighter pilot.


Origin

disputed origin

From Red Baron, nickname of Baron Manfred von Richthofen, who flew a red fighter.

Examples
SIMPLE

He thinks he is a real Red Baron in that fast car.

CONTEXTUAL

The young pilot acted like a Red Baron during the training exercise, performing risky maneuvers that impressed his instructors.

COMPLEX

Despite his lack of actual combat experience, the arrogant recruit carried himself with the swagger of a Red Baron, convinced that he would dominate the skies.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    bleed red ink

    To suffer from severe net losses.

  2. 02

    clap one's hands red

    To clap or applaud intensely.

  3. 03

    cut red tape

    To reduce bureaucracy.

  4. 04

    neither fish, flesh, nor good red herring

    Synonym of neither fish nor fowl (“not easily categorized; not rightly belonging or fitting well in a given group or situation; also, not having the advantages of the various options”).

  5. 05

    paint the town red

    To party or celebrate in a rowdy, wild manner, especially in a public place.

  6. 06

    put on the red light

    To advertise oneself as a prostitute.

  7. 07

    red face test

    A hypothetical test of a person's embarrassment that is either passed or failed. Saying one passes the red face test means one would not blush and thus would not be embarrassed by disclosing something to others or doing something, and saying one fails the red face test means a situation would cause them discernible embarrassment.

  8. 08

    red flag

    Something that will enrage a particular person; a red rag.

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