watermelon

B2 · Upper Intermediate

adj. having a bright, pinkish-red colour like the inside of the fruit.

adj. denoting a specific shade of pinkish-red, typically resembling the hue of ripe watermelon flesh.

“She wore a bright watermelon dress to the summer wedding.”

“The designer selected a watermelon silk for the evening gown, noting how the warm pink tones complemented the model's complexion.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Informal · Slang

n. a person who cares about the environment but also has strong socialist beliefs.

n. a derogatory metaphor for an environmentalist with socialist leanings, implying they are 'green' on the outside but 'red' on the inside.

“The politician called his opponents watermelons during the heated debate.”

“Critics often use the term watermelon to suggest that environmental policies are merely a vehicle for radical wealth redistribution.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Computing Informal · Technical

n. a project that looks good on the outside but has many problems hidden inside.

n. a project reported as healthy (green) in status updates while actually being in a critical state (red) internally.

“The manager realized the software launch was a watermelon project only a week before the deadline.”

“To avoid watermelon projects, the department implemented more rigorous auditing of individual task milestones rather than relying on high-level status reports.”