ENGLISH
REFERENCE

red face test

idiom
Meaning

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.


Examples
SIMPLE

I cannot tell my boss that, it fails the red face test.

CONTEXTUAL

Before you publish those private emails, ask yourself if the content passes the red face test.

COMPLEX

The politician insisted that his financial dealings would easily pass the red face test if they were ever made public.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    bash someone's face in

    To beat someone violently.

  2. 02

    bleed red ink

    To suffer from severe net losses.

  3. 03

    blow up in one's face

    To fail disastrously.

  4. 04

    boat

    [Cockney slang]face

  5. 05

    break someone's face

    To beat up someone violently.

  6. 06

    butter face

    Alternative form of butterface.

  7. 07

    clap one's hands red

    To clap or applaud intensely.

  8. 08

    close the face

    To turn the face of the bat inwards, in order to hit the ball to the leg side.

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