# red ink

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/red-ink
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Financial loss.

## Examples

- The company is in the red ink again.
- After a year of poor sales, the small business found itself drowning in red ink.
- Despite the CEO's optimistic projections, the quarterly report revealed significant red ink that threatened the future of the entire organization.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.